Right To Play has inaugurated an all-female group to help the organization in responding to the needs of Ghanaian children.

The Gender Equality and Child Protection Reference Group (GECPRG) will ensure that the programmes, initiatives and interventions of the organisation are gender-responsive and reflect the general policy and action priorities of stakeholders.

The GECPRG comprises women from various organisations, including Ghana Education Service (GES), the Children’s Department, the Domestic Violence Secretariat of the Gender Ministry, and traditional leaders, among others.

Speaking at the ceremony held last Thursday at the Mensvic Grand Hotel at East Legon, the Gender Specialist at Right To Play Ghana, Margaret Alexander Rehoboth said the group will provide a forum for strategizing against the cultural norms that favour men over women.

“The cultural norms are such that men have some advantages or males have some advantages at the expense of women and that is just the way it is,” she noted.

According to Ms Alexander Rehoboth, both men and women have an equal value that they bring to the table and this must be appreciated.

Although she conceded that this will not be done or happen overnight, the Gender Specialist at Right To Play Ghana believes the GECPRG will help women strategies on how to address the disadvantages of girls and women in society.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Country Director of Right To Play, Josephine Mukakalisa encouraged the group members to put their expertise at the disposal of the organization to respond to the urgent needs of the programme beneficiaries.

“…[with your active participation] we will all do something which is really responding to the needs of the beneficiaries,” the Country Director said.

Present at the ceremony were, Queen mother, Mama Awanyo I, Euphemia Akos Dzathor, Benedicta Tenni Seidu, the Director of the Girls Education Unit at the Ghana Education Service, Ahwoi Ewura-Abena, Vida Barbara Ntow from the Ghana Education Service, and Abena Dufie Akonu-Atta from the Department of Social Welfare.

The others were Gender Activist with FAWE and educationist, Malonih Asibi from the Domestic Violence Secretariat at the Gender Ministry, Dorcas M. Aggrey from UNFPA, and Faustina Acheampong from DOG, among others.