Political Activism of Women

The time has come for women all over the world to stand up for leadership. Africa needs drastic change in leaders and women should place a call on themselves to bring the desired change to the continent.

Rwanda has set a world record of having 56% of women in national politics. This is commendable and there's the need for all other countries especially African countries to follow suit.

For decade now women are subjected to sexism, massive discrimination, stereotype amongst other things.
This has led to raised voices for the empowerment of women and the formation of several support groups for women yet, there has been little change in regards to what power women hold.
"The thing women are yet to learn  is nobody gives you power. You just take it," so says Roseanne Bar.
Indeed women possess power that can be a driving force for the betterment of our continent.

Regardless the role played by feminist groups like African Women's Communication & Development Network (FEMNET), NETRIGHTS, Voices of Women Initiative among others, there are still factors that hinder women from the course of political leadership.

These challenges range from lack of family support, financial challenges, fear of corrupt systems and the failure of women in political positions to champion women's agenda.

At the family level, husbands have failed to provide the perfect shoulders for women when they need them the most while the rest of the family feel it's too dangerous a position for a woman.

Political positions come with needed finances which pose as threat to women. The thought of preparing and financing elections all alone without support from home can be discouraging.

Furthermore, our current systems raise issues of corruption in all sectors of government and this is a determent to the decisions of women who wish to serve and lead in our continent.

There are a few women who have made it to national politics but have failed to champion the course of women when they get there.

Women support groups although exist, do not share same ideologies and this is worrying.

There's the need for a combined effort to push women agenda.

Women should endeavour to climb high the educational ladder.

Women support groups should champion the course of liberating women from unfair treatment, sexism and all forms of discrimination in order to strengthen them for national leadership.

Young women who vy for positions in schools should be properly trained to contribute their quotas towards the development of Africa.

Plus A Year Old

When one is a year older, one becomes very elated and mostly forgets that age is catching up with one and for that matter, the need to carefully look into one's life and better one's weaknesses.

During a sermon back in SHS, an elder of the church of pentecost said to us "you are always happy when it's your birthday. Have you thought and realized that a year older is a year nearer your grave?"
There was uproar and so much giggling when he said that but come to think of it, isn't that  reality? If you are 17 and happy, what certainty have you that you will leave to experience similar happy day come next year?

Verily, there's reason to be excited but there's reason also to sit and think through your life when you are plus a year old.

At the launch of the 2014 Milead Fellows, an annual program organized by Moremi Initiative for Women's Leadership yesterday at the Institute of African Studies, Legon, profile of 28 participants were read out and a colleague from work asked me "with all these high profiles of these young fellows our age, what have we to say for ourselves?"
We both laughed.

Sincerely speaking, that question came back to me today that i am plus a year old. What have i got to celebrate? The gift of life or my achievements?
Hon Abla Dzifa Gomashie, deputy minister of tourism, culture and creative arts, giving her speech at the program challenged everyone present to do excellently whatever they are faced with such that in their absence, their names will always be mentioned.
So on this day of happiness, i dare ask myself; what have i accomplished, what have i live for. How will i be remembered if i happened not to have experienced this day?

I am happy when i think of the life i share with love ones. I am happy when i check up on old friends. I am happy when i think of my service to my colleagues and extra services i intend to render to students of my institution and beyond. I'm utterly happy when i think of Read for Change Ghana, a foundation i co-founded and dream of protecting and growing, to serve young children in deprived schools. I'm excited to know that i have a dream and a passion which is attainable because plus a year old is hope for the future and hope for life.

"Dreamers achieve." I say this to friends in a funny tone but with a dream, desire, passion and God one can achieve everything.
Plus a year old today and i dream of achieving many things beyond my own imagination.

Plus a year old and i ask for God to see me through a fruitful journey of life.
Plus a year old and i want to rededicate my life to God, to serve Him.

Plus a year, what do you dream of?