In spite of the calls for women empowerment and equal opportunities for all, there exists a disparity between men and women in various fields, sometimes undermining the contribution of women in society.
The reality has necessitated a call by the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Media General Limited, Beatrice Agyemang, to call for equal opportunities to be afforded all manner of persons irrespective of their gender, to fully articulate their prowess in their respective fields of endeavour.
In a message issued on the commemoration of International Women’s Day Friday, March 08, 2024, the 2023 EMY Africa Woman of the Year said a day like this offers women the opportunity to celebrate their successes and stand together to renew their dedication to overcome the obstacles impeding their cause.
She said the theme for this year’s celebration; “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”, challenges leadership to prioritise investment in women to consolidate the significant contributions they have been making to sustain the Ghanaian economy.
“The theme for this year, “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,” underscores the critical importance of gender equality, women’s empowerment, and the right to healthier and better lives for women and girls.
“This theme challenges leaders to prioritize investments in women, recognizing their pivotal role in Ghana’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector, which serves as the backbone of our economy. SMEs represent approximately 92% of businesses, predominantly within the private sector, and contribute about 70% to our GDP,” the statement contained in some parts.
Find below the full statement from the GCEO
Sam Jonah lauds Media General’s Beatrice Agyemang for breaking glass ceiling
A MESSAGE FROM MADAM BEATRICE AGYEMANG, GROUP CEO OF MEDIA GENERAL LIMITED, ON THE COMMEMORATION OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY ON MARCH 8, 2024
Today, as we mark International Women’s Day, we stand together to celebrate the accomplishments of women and renew our dedication to overcoming obstacles and achieving even greater success through hard work and determination.
The theme for this year, “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,” underscores the critical importance of gender equality, women’s empowerment, and the right to healthier and better lives for women and girls.
This theme challenges leaders to prioritize investments in women, recognizing their pivotal role in Ghana’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector, which serves as the backbone of our economy. SMEs represent approximately 92% of businesses, predominantly within the private sector, and contribute about 70% to our GDP.
Despite their significant contributions, Ghanaian women, like their counterparts worldwide, face numerous challenges such as poverty, economic disparities, discrimination, cultural barriers, limited access to education and healthcare, and various forms of violence.
The immense contributions of women to development demand a concerted effort to address these challenges. Women need access to essential resources including business knowledge, legal support, financial services, technology, and technical assistance to accelerate progress in their endeavors for the betterment of their families and our nation.
As a leading media company in Ghana, Media General Limited remains committed to leveraging our platforms to raise awareness about the challenges confronting women and to advocate for better opportunities to enable them to contribute more significantly to our social and economic growth.
This day holds a special significance for us and our brands – TV3, Onua TV, 3FM, Onua FM, Akoma FM, Connect FM, OnuaOnline.com and 3News.com – as we join the global community in celebrating women, especially the extraordinary women on our board, management, and staff who have played integral roles in making Media General the foremost media organization in the country.
Our programmes- Today’s Woman, Ladies’ Circle and Dwaso Hemaa, demonstrate our commitment to championing the cause of women. Our SME fairs have primarily targeted women in small scale businesses, not to speak of the countless support we give to especially women through our 3Foundation
We envision a nation and a world where women are afforded equal and inclusive opportunities. I take this opportunity to celebrate the strength, resilience, and selfless contributions of all the remarkable women who have achieved success, blazed trails, and inspired future generations to do the same.
I wish all women a Happy International Women’s Day!
Media General’s Beatrice Agyemang is Ghana’s CEO of the Year 2021
