An initiative to support global efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with the aim to ignite a wave of global resolve in support of MDG3, which seeks to promote gender equality and empower women, with particular emphasis on women's economic empowerment has reached Ghana.
The Danish government is championing this initiative dubbed "MDG3 Torch Campaign" that forms part of the UN-led international campaign for the MDGs that will culminate in the MDG High Level Event due in September this year.
As part of the campaign, a "torch of commitment" has been passed on to identifiable human rights defenders who have championed social justice across different parts of the world, to proclaim further commitments to promote women empowerment within their areas of jurisdiction.
Nana Oye Lithur, Regional Coordinator of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) is the latest human and women's rights advocate to be presented the torch of commitment.
Acting Commissioner of CHRAJ, Ms. Anna Bossman and Ms. Adisa Lansah Yakubu, Projector Co-coordinator of Africa 2000 Network have both received torches in April 2008.
Speaking at the handing over of the torch to Nana Oye in Accra, Danish Ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Flemming Pedersen noted that the status of women not least in Africa still leaves a lot to be desired at a time when the MDG supposed to be achieved is half way to the year 2015.
He said Denmark recognizes that women in Africa suffer particularly from poverty, environmental degradation and lack of access to opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.
"A key component of the Africa strategy is a focus on gender equality to secure women's rights and create growth. In this light an allocation of GH¢145 million has been available for interventions on women's empowerment in various countries from 2008 to 2012."
He was confident that Nana Oye will act extra to in order to promote gender equality and Ghanaian women's empowerment.
Nana Oye Lithur stated that her prime reason for agreeing to be an MDG 3 champion torch bearer.
"I believe taking up this task will enable me contribute to achieving gender equality and will help fulfill my personal aspiration of serving my community and country."
She said her focus will be on helping to eliminate gender disparity in secondary education in Nkwanta district, Hohoe Municipality and in the Shama Ahanta district, since gender disparity become glaring when girls enter secondary schools and subsequently at tertiary level.
She hopes to do this on the premise that increasing female enrolment in secondary education in Ghana will ultimately lead to economic benefits for the women and the society as a whole.
"I will start a mentoring programme to be called "Show by Example" not only for brilliant girls, but for those who promise and are committed to staying to learn."
She added that there will also be an advocacy monitoring programme to assess performance and quality of education in these districts.
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