Speaking assignments Speeches EWN, Executive Women Network kenneth.ashigbey April 23, 2016 0 Comments

Executive Women Network, inspires, empowers and supports – I believe in them

The Big Six, Your excellences, distinguished ladies and gentlemen

I am happy to be associated with the launch of Executive Women Network with an opportunity to give a solidarity message. Thanks for putting we where God put me right between 2 great women in terms of those to give the solidarity messages.

To begin with, every man in this room is guilty of social injustice against women.

Men have practically monopolized leadership, both traditional and national, and used it to build a society where the odds are against females.

Esther-at-EWN Executive Women Network, inspires, empowers and supports - I believe in them — Ms Esther Cobbah Special Guest Speaker at the launch

This has forced them into sacrifices they never naturally would have made and put them at a disadvantage in almost every facet of our society. Therefore, though according to the 2010 population census report, females in Ghana are more than men, representing 51.2 of the population against 48.8 for men, they are ironically less in number in areas of influence or potential influence. Just three areas of education, employment and leadership will prove this.

Education

Maidie-Arkutu-the-MD-of-Unilever-Ghana Executive Women Network, inspires, empowers and supports - I believe in them — Mr. Maidie Arkutu the MD of Unilever Ghana, the Chairperson of the EWN

In education, males outnumber females. This is borne out by the statistics put out by the Statistical Service after the 2010 census, which showed that less number of females rose to any height in education. While the percentage of boys in the senior high school was 50.8, it was 44.9 for girls. The situation was not any different at the tertiary level. Boys were 10 per cent, with girls being 7.5 per cent.

The effect of this is that more males are literate than females in the percentages of 80.2 and 68.5 respectively. The question is why should this be when the population of females is higher than males? Such an imbalance is possible because males control power and make things happen in their favour.

I believe everyone here has heard – and some may have probably actually witnessed – situations where a girl has been forced to sacrifice her education for her brother because their father does not have resources to take care of both. The truth is that in such s decision, the wives have no say.

Employment

The social imbalance against women continues in employment too. In fact, it does not need any research to establish that in organisations in Ghana, men are more than women. Again, the 2010 population census lends credence to the fact that, in spite of their numerical advantage, females suffer a disadvantage in employment too as male dominate in employment at a percentage of 25.3 against females, who form 11.4 per cent.

Leadership

EWN1 Executive Women Network, inspires, empowers and supports - I believe in them — The Big 6 – Founding Members

The situation with female education and employment can probably be better understood if you realise that those who control and exercise power are men – and in that, they are virtually a monopoly.

If you don’t believe men have monopolized power, hear what the 2000 census report says,

“Systems of governance and political administration differ widely from the highly centralized kingdom of the Ashantis to the loosely organized acephalous societies of the north. Irrespective of the type of political organisation, perhaps, nowhere else in the social system are inequalities more marked than in the area of governance. Women are indeed categorized and treated as minors as far as politics is concerned, and political power is wielded and exercised almost exclusively by men.”

How true. Since the Forth Republic began, it has always been the trend that the number of women in the large Cabinets that we have witnessed is significantly low, quite unrepresentative of their number in the population. They are more than half of the population but are always one or two in the Cabinet, where decisions are taken on the direction of the country including the fate of every female.

I think this must begin to end. This is why I am happy that women who have braved the odds and risen to great heights in the corporate world have come together in this important network, the Executive Women Network. My appeal to the Big 6 and the members of EWN is for you be role models for females both young and old. Fight the cause of women for total liberation, pull each other along, together you are strong. Do not believe the hype, that you are not a force to be reckoned with, you are the challenge is a lot of you do not know.

Without you, the women, pulling us, the of society, we will not realize our dreams of Africa and Ghana becoming a developed society. Show me any bird that has soared very high with one of its wings being clipped.