Empowering women is an economic, social imperative – Rebecca Akufo-Addo

Empowering women is an economic, social imperative – Rebecca Akufo-Addo. The First Lady Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo says empowering women is not just a moral obligation, but an economic and social imperative.

She said when women were empowered, economies thrived, communities prospered, and societies flourished.

“It’s not about giving women a seat at the table; it’s about recognising that they’ve been architects of change all along,” the First Lady said at the 4th Edition of Choc Des Lègendes – a Gand Festival of Eloquence, Arts & Culture, held in Accra.

The event, which took the form of a mock trial with jurors, was aimed at celebrating women leadership, commitment, and legacy to humanity, and dubbed the “Praise of Women”.

Started some seven years ago with previous editions held in Europe, the event recognised and celebrated the contributions of women in different spheres of society.

The First Lady Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, who was the Chair of the Great Jury, said empowerment started with education.

She noted that every girl deserved access to quality education, regardless of her background or circumstances.

“Education is not just a tool for personal growth; it’s a catalyst for societal transformation,” she said.

Empowerment, the First Lady said, meant economic independence, and that “we must break down the barriers that hinder women from accessing economic opportunities.”

“Empowerment also demands representation,” she added, saying women’s voices must be heard and valued in decision-making processes at all levels, from boardrooms to parliamentary chambers.

Mrs Akufo-Addo said “…empowerment is more than policies and programmes; it’s a mind-set shift. It’s about challenging outdated stereotypes, dismantling patriarchal structures, and fostering a culture of respect and equality.”

Women, she reiterated, had for centuries defied expectations, shattered glass ceilings, and rewritten the narrative of what it meant to be powerful.

“Their brilliance, resilience, courage, grace, and strength have shaped our world for the better.  Simply put, women are architects of change, often the silent heroes nurturing humanity,” she said.

Exercising her power as lead juror for the mock trial, the First Lady ruled in favour of women deserving praise, with a rather poignant remark, saying “We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back. Together, let’s create a future where every woman can unleash her full potential and soar to new heights.”

Madam Anna Bossman, a legal practitioner and Ghana’s Ambassador to France, Portugal, Monaco and UNESCO, played the role as an accuser of women whilst Ace Ankomah, a legal practitioner, also acted as a defendant.

They advanced arguments for and against women deserving praise for their contributions to society and humanity.

They were backed by witnesses who included Ms. Yvonne Bettkober, the Executive President in Charge of Transformation, Volkswagen Group and Dr. Evangelos Kyriakidis, an Archeologist and Founding Director of Heritage Management Organisation.

Madam Bossman emphasised that women needed to support each other even more, and said though men continued to be blamed for the many ills against women, they (women) had to take part of the responsibility as well.

“There are situations where if women got themselves together, they could actually stop certain things,” she stated in an interview with the Ghana News Agency.

Pascal Gally, Founder of Choc Des Lègendes, giving a chronology of how the women in his life – his mother especially – played significant roles in his career progression and growth, said women were the backbone of society.

Source: GNA