The Acting Deputy General Secretary in charge of operations of the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU) Ghana, Mr Morgan Ayawine, has challenged women to be assertive and take up political appointments.

He noted that “politics is not a preserve of men because women have a big role to play in nation building”.

Mr Ayawine stated this at a Northern Regional Women’s Conference in Tamale organized by the ICU, and aimed at discussing issues affecting women at the labour front, as well as educate them on other labour issues.

The occasion was used to elect a new executive to run the affairs of the ICU Women’s Committee in the region for the next four years. The new executives are Hajia Hajara Issak, Chairperson, Madam Hajara Bawa, Vice Chairperson, Madam Evelyn Tigenereba, Secretary, Madam Hamdiatu Amadu, Assistant Secretary and Madam Assibi Kombian, executive member.

Mr Ayawine entreated women to use “their empowerment and numerical advantage to positively influence systems and policies for the betterment of the nation”.

According to him, women could influence policies through civil society organizations and women’s advocacy groups.

“I implore you all not to look down on your empowerment or abandon it but to use it positively for the benefit of the society” he stressed.

He equally observed that women formed the greater percentage of Ghana’s population which presented them with a unique opportunity to become shapers of opinion and movers of policies.

He told the women that “many years ago, Yaa Asantewaa broke the monopoly of men in politics and blazed the trail by leading the men of Ashanti to war against British hegemony, which should tell you that what one woman has done another woman can do”.

“I urge you all who have benefited from trade union seminars, workshops and skills acquisition programmes to impart your knowledge to your less privileged sisters for them also to be self-reliant and assertive for multiplier effects for women” Mr Ayawine stated.

The Chairperson for the ICU women’s committee, Hajia Issak pledged on behalf of her colleagues to work assiduously to promote the ideals of the union.

“I promise to ensure that the union is not dormant because I would draw up programmes to keep the union members busy in the coming years” she stated.

Source: Daily Graphic

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