Network Communications Reporters (NCR) has urged women to leverage all forms of technology to champion gender equality and to become more influential in society.

The NCR believes this will enable women to move towards reducing the dominance of men in all endeavours.

The Dean of NCR, Charles Benoni Okine, made the call in a statement released in Accra on Thursday to mark World Women’s Day, which falls today.

“Through technology, women can reach one another and wage a relentless campaign that can make their voices heard on any matter of concern,” the statement said.

Mr Charles Benoni Okine

The NCR statement also added that access to technology, control of it and the ability to create and shape it were fundamental issues of women’s human rights.

The statement noted that women must strive to close the technology gap and empower themselves and girls to create innovative solutions to advance equality in their communities.

It added that with a mobile phone, a pregnant woman in a rural area, for instance, could stay connected to a midwife. For other women and girls, Internet access and a mobile phone could mean access to a bank account for the first time, a new tool to learn how to read and write or a way to stay safe and avoid harassment in a crowded city.

According to the Global Fund for Women, worldwide 200 million more men than women have access to the Internet, and women are 21 per cent less likely to own a mobile phone.

It said through the use of technology, women stood a better chance to address issues including “violence against women, safety and access to safe spaces, political empowerment, education and health care. It could also be the best tool to fight against one of the most criminal acts against women in workplaces because they can use technology to report sexual harassment wherever they find themselves.”

Commendations

The statement commended some prominent women in society who have led in the telecom/ICT space.

It mentioned the Minister of Communications, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, who is playing a pivotal role in the fight against cybercrime and championing the national agenda on technology.

It also commended Mrs Patricia Obo-Nai, the new Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Ghana, the first Ghanaian woman to hold that position, and the Airteltigo CEO, Ms Mitwa Kaemba Ng'ambi.

The Director News of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, was also commended for being the first female to ascend that position. She is also the President of the Association of Women in the Media (ASWIM).

The statement added: “These are testimonies to the fact that technology/ICT is not beyond women. Women must encourage their girl-child to take a keen interest in the area. We also want to see women leverage technology, social media, in particular, to advertise and sell and do brisk business and use financial technology for transactions".

The statement wished all women well in all their endeavours in the coming year.