The Seventh-Day Adventist Church has petitioned government over what leadership describes as wanton abuse of women in Ghana.
The church wants the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection to draw attention and spearhead strengthening of laws to end the practice.
Over 4,000 women from 22 countries in West and Central Africa signed the petition at the Women’s Ministries Conference in Kumasi.
The petitioners say abuse and domestic violence against women are on the ascendency.
According to them, 35% of women in 80 countries worldwide, including Ghana suffered either physical or sexual violence in 2014 alone.
They also identified health threats, illiteracy, poverty and lack of training as well as women’s workload as some of the critical issues affecting them worldwide.
"United Nations statistics shows that one in every three women around the world will experience abuse sometime in her life. One in three women seated here will experience abuse sometime in her life and so we launched the "End it Now" campaign to bring this issue of abuse to the attention of every member of our church and to people in our communities," says Heather-Dawn Small, Director of General Conference Women's Ministries of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
The Seventh-Day Adventist Church has launched a campaign dubbed, "End It Now" to fight, especially, abuse of household workers.
Heather-Dawn Small says a lot has been done since 2001 to draw the world's attention to the abuse of women through public education.
"We have marched in the streets of our communities and we have given out literature to educate people about abuse.
We have collected signatures of people who are against abuse and even right now, in Ghana, we are collecting signatures to give to government to ask for more laws to help women and girls."
Women from the church's West-Central Division in 22 countries have been meeting at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi for the six-day conference, under the theme, “Saved to Serve".
Omobonike Sessou is Director of West-Central African Division Women’s Ministries.
She wants greater attention focused on improving the living standards of women.
"We want to equip women. We want to equip women so that they would get the necessary training and skills needed to build their homes so that they would be agents of change. Don't forget that women have great responsibility of raising children and these are children who would become citizens of or country tomorrow. So if the country is going to have good citizens, it depends on the training the women are given to their children."
Latest Stories
-
Fomena NPP executives smoke peace pipe after Napo’s intervention
1 hour -
Alan’s running mate slams gov’t for economic mismanagement, touts Alan as Ghana’s hope
2 hours -
Alan’s running mate Kwame Owusu Danso decries Ghana’s economic collapse, criticizes Bawumia’s leadership
2 hours -
Kwame Owusu Danso’s Emotional Tribute: From humble beginnings to Vice Presidential nominee
2 hours -
Newsfile to discuss NDC’s demand for audit of voter’s register, galamsey fight
3 hours -
Some major roadblocks in Accra, police outlines alternative routes
4 hours -
Vision FC set for tough test as Legon Cities seek first victory
5 hours -
Inland Fisherfolk want establishment of Development and Research Fund under new Fisheries Act
5 hours -
Communication professionals to discuss AI’s place in storytelling at ThinkStories Hangout
5 hours -
Country Lodge Hotel crowned Best 1-star hotel at 2024 Eastern Regional Tourism Awards
6 hours -
Filing fees of all disqualified applicants will be refunded – EC
6 hours -
We’ll end NPP’s 8 years of corruption – NDC justifies 8th position on ballot paper
6 hours -
EC has no power to determine who wins elections – Jean Mensa
6 hours -
Election 2024: It’s No.1 for NPP, No.8 for NDC on ballot paper
7 hours -
Learning Organisation wins HR, Training and Development Consulting Firm of Year 2024 award
7 hours