Accra: The Henry Djaba Memorial Foundation (HDMF) has urged all Ghanaians to bolster efforts to ensure gender equality and the significant involvement of women in leadership, governance, and economic life.
According to Ghana Web, the call was articulated in a statement signed by Otiko Afisah Djaba, Executive Director of HDMF, on International Women's Day, March 8, 2026. The foundation underscored the ongoing systemic inequalities that have restricted girls' and women's access to education, political representation, economic opportunities, and societal respect.
"For too long, girls were told to be patient, to wait their turn, to dream within boundaries set by society. They suffered in silence. Today, those limits are being broken," Djaba remarked. The statement highlighted that young women across Ghana, from Tamale to Somanya, are now aspiring to assume positions of power as engineers, ministers, or members of parliament.
The foundation applauded the passage of Ghana's Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) law as a pivotal step in removing barriers to women's participation in leadership and national development. "This law did more than increase numbers. It shifted power. It challenged centuries of exclusion and forced institutions to confront the truth that talent has never been the problem. Access was," the statement asserted.
HDMF stressed that the law is a rectification of historical inequalities, not a benefit to women. Despite celebrating these achievements, the foundation acknowledged that legal measures alone cannot transform societies.
The foundation emphasized the need for legal provisions to be supported by ongoing investments, meaningful implementation, and accountability to ensure that women's representation translates into real power and opportunities. "Representation must lead to resources and investments in the development of girls and women, and participation must translate into influence and equality in everyday life," it stated.
The foundation urged government bodies, civil society organizations, development partners, and communities to collaboratively create concrete opportunities for girls and women, particularly in marginalized areas. It also highlighted the significance of gender-responsive budgeting and the collaboration between men and women to drive national development.
Concluding the statement, Otiko Djaba, representing the foundation, called on Ghanaians to embrace the theme of this year's International Women's Day, "Give To Gain," as a unifying call to protect progress, accelerate change, and deepen gender equality across the nation. "When girls and women succeed, communities rise, and when they are empowered, Ghana moves forward," she concluded.