First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo has celebrated the achievements and contributions of Ghanaian women to the socio-economic, cultural, and political spheres of the country.

"Women have been identified as front-liners in managing the crisis [Covid-19] in their role as healthcare workers, caregivers, innovators, and community organisers, among others.

"Many of them have also been recognised as most exemplary national leaders in combating the disease, with a majority demonstrating their skills, knowledge, and networks to effectively lead in the response and recovery efforts," she stated.

Commemorating the annual International Women’s Day on Monday, the President of the Rebecca Foundation joined the global campaign to address the issue of gender inequality and lobby for accelerated gender parity.

According to Mrs. Akufo-Addo, the annual celebration of women on March 8, continues to be very relevant due to many pressing issues concerning women and girls; a matter that deserves to be highlighted and given the requisite attention.

Women across the world, she indicated, are facing "increased domestic violence, unpaid care duties, unemployment, and poverty" due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite women constituting the majority of frontline workers, First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo disclosed that there is a disproportionate and inadequate representation of women in the national and global Covid-19 policy space.

She, therefore, issued a clarion call to support women across the globe get a voice and say in policy decision making aimed at resolving the issue of gender disparity.

"The needs of women rightly deserve to be placed at the heart of the Covid-19 response measures, while socio-economic plans are redesigned purposefully to better the lives and futures of women and girls.

"Everyone must daily make a conscious effort in thought, speech and action towards the achievement of gender parity, sooner than later, in defeat of the World Economic Forum’s prediction that 'none of us will see gender parity in our lifetimes, nor likely will many of our children.’

"Working for a sweet victory, with a ripple effect in the interest of all, must be the common agenda," she added.

Mrs Akufo-Addo iterated the need to build a society devoid of gender inequality under the nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2021 International Women's Day theme: "Calls for unity and focus, both by women and men in Ghana and yonder."

"A challenged world is, indeed, an alert world. Therefore, everyone must truly embrace the challenge by making the International Women’s Day the focal point to contribute their quota, actively, to make a positive difference for women," she stated.

The First Lady also used the opportunity to urge women across the world to be champions and lead the world in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, as they have done with previous phenomenons.