We can’t keep relying on external donations for gender equality – Esther Tawiah

Gender advocate Esther Tawiah has raised a strong call for a shift in how Ghana addresses women’s empowerment and gender equality.

She outlined several pressing issues that continue to hinder women’s progress in the country, from financial literacy to inadequate government support for gender-focused initiatives, in an interview monitored by MyNewsGh.

“How can a woman grow her business if she doesn’t even know how to protect it?” Tawiah questioned. Her frustration is rooted in the fact that many women lack access to critical financial tools such as insurance, which can safeguard their businesses against risks like fire outbreaks.

“We need to teach women about these tools so they can stand on their own,” she emphasized, pointing out that without this kind of knowledge, women are at a severe disadvantage in the business world.

Tawiah’s comments echo the sentiments of many women entrepreneurs who, despite being skilled in their trade, struggle with the lack of financial literacy that could protect and expand their businesses.

Her critique extends to the government’s financial commitments to gender equality. Ghana, as part of the Commonwealth Gender-Sensitive Budgeting Initiative, has pledged to allocate 15% of the national budget towards addressing gender issues.

Yet, Tawiah noted, “This initiative requires 15% of the national budget to address gender issues, yet we’re far from meeting that target.

How can we claim to prioritize gender equality if we’re not putting money where it matters?” The absence of adequate funding for gender-focused programs has been a recurring issue, and Tawiah believes that without serious financial backing, policies aimed at improving women’s lives will continue to fall short.

Tawiah’s concerns also extend to the workplace. While Ghana has signed international conventions like ILO Convention 19 to ensure safer working conditions for women, the country’s laws still lag behind these global standards.

“We’ve signed conventions like ILO Convention 19, but what are we doing to align our laws with these standards? Women deserve workplaces where they feel safe and valued,” Tawiah asserted.

“The prevalence of workplace harassment, unequal pay, and unsafe working conditions is still rampant, and Tawiah insists that it’s time to enforce stronger laws that align with global standards.

The discussion also turned to the Gender Ministry, which, according to Tawiah, faces a serious challenge in fulfilling its mandate.

“The ministry can’t keep depending on external donations to survive. It’s unacceptable that only 30% of its resources are left for core activities after funding programs like school feeding,” Tawiah said, criticizing the ministry’s over-reliance on external funding.

She believes that this weakens the ministry’s ability to address the full spectrum of challenges that women face in Ghana, from financial independence to access to social protection.

“The Gender Ministry needs a stronger mandate and more resources to address the many challenges women face,” Tawiah concluded. “From financial independence to social protection, these issues require urgent and comprehensive solutions.”

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