Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the National Youth Authority (NYA) in-charge of Finance and Administration, Akosua Manu says she finds gender inequality in access to property rights the biggest threat to women’s economic progress.
According to her when women are denied the right to own properties, it prevents them from thriving, hence, forestalling economic development.
During a presentation at the NUGS Handing Over and Leadership Training, Akosua Manu, explained: “Property rights are about empowering the social and economic position of vulnerable women through less expected, but equally important channels. Property rights are typically associated with access to housing, a critical need for urban women”.
Further commenting on the housing factor in property rights, she stressed that secure housing provides safe shelter and protection from homelessness after divorce, widowhood, among other things.
Stating another channel of empowering women with property rights, she noted that savings account in a woman’s name offers a basic form of security and insurance. Illustrating her point, she said, “One study from Nepal showed that 78 percent of poor women who were offered a savings account actively used it and as a result increased their monetary assets by more than 50 percent”.
The Deputy CEO advised, “Without the safety net ownership of property provides, women and other marginalized demographics will always be excluded from taking power in politics, industry and society”.
Meanwhile, Akosua Manu, has also identified cultural biases and physical violence, psychological violence, sexual violence and imposter syndrome, among others as threats women in leadership face.
Mrs. Akosua Manu represented the National Youth Authority (NYA) at the handing over ceremony for the newly elected officers of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) on Tuesday 29th June 2021, at the University of Ghana, Legon.
By: Alberta Dorcas N D Armah
