The Gender Minister has encouraged men to advocate an end of harmful and negative cultural and traditional practices like Female Genital Mutilation as the world celebrates International Men's Day.

Otiko Afisah Djaba in a statement to mark the occasion also urged men to see to an end to social cankers like child prostitution, early child marriage, child labour and child trafficking in our society.

"We express the need for an improved gender relations through an active participation of boys and men as partners in the quest for gender equality and also encourage the Men and boys to support all activities leading to the launch of the ‘HeforShe’ campaign in Ghana in December 2017," she said. 

The Minister also bemoan "the increasing reported cases of violence against men by women. However, because of our culture, these men shy away from reporting such incidence and suffer in silence. 

"Even though men have enormous power in our society, there are still some who are vulnerable, marginalized and unable to achieve their full potential. Men are dying in combat and suffer more fatalities at the workplace than women," the Minister lamented.

Below is the statement.  

CELEBRATION OF INTERNATIONAL MEN’S DAY                     

THEME: “CELEBRATE MEN AND BOYS”

Today, Sunday November 19th, marks the International Men’s Day and Ghana joins the rest of the World to commemorate this Special Day in celebration of our gallant men and boys in every part of Ghana.

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) on behalf of the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo wishes to remind all Ghanaians about this day and calls on all women and girls to seize this opportunity to celebrate our fathers, uncles, husbands, brothers and sons.

The International Men’s Day is a worldwide annual event celebrated on 19th of November. It was inaugurated in 1992 on 7th February by Thomas Oaster to accord the World the opportunity to appreciate and celebrate the sacrifices and contributions of men. The theme for 2017 International Men’s Day celebration is “Celebrate Men and Boys”.

The objectives for this year’s International Men’s Day celebration are;

• To reflect on the contributions, sacrifices and progress made by men in society

• To improve gender relations and promote gender equality

• To create a safer and better world where men and women can be safe and grow to reach their full potential.

• Establish the Men’s Day as a popular annual event on the national calendar of Ghana.

The celebration of the International Men’s Day has also become very significant for us in Ghana to rally the full support of Men and Boys especially those in leadership and decision making roles for the immediate passage of the Affirmation Action Bill into Law for the realisation of gender equality, equity and development of women and girls in Ghana. The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection acknowledges that, even though men have enormous power in our society, there are still some who are vulnerable, marginalized and unable to achieve their full potential. Men are dying in combat and suffer more fatalities at the workplace than women. Recent WHO data shows that globally male life expectancy at birth was 69 years and for females, it was 74 years. There are also increasing reports of health issues like prostate cancer, stroke, depression and suicides.

We still find males not in school selling dog chains or taking care of cattle and goats, involved in galamsey, armed robbery, child trafficking, Child Labour and other abuses. Another challenge for our men is the increasing reported cases of violence against men by women. However, because of our culture, these men shy away from reporting such incidence and suffer in silence. So, the Ministry is condemning all gender-based violence. Nobody (male or female) should suffer any form of violation or abuse, Ghana 60 years.

On this occasion of the International Men’s Day, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection led by Otiko Afisah Djaba, therefore, encourages Men to advocate to end harmful and negative cultural and traditional practices like the Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and other issues like child prostitution, early child marriage, child labour and child trafficking in our society. We express the need for an improved gender relations through active participation of boys and men as partners in the quest for gender equality, and also encourage the Men and boys to support all activities leading to the launch of the ‘HeforShe’ campaign in Ghana in December 2017. The ‘HeforShe’ is a global initiative by the UN Women to encourage at least one billion men and boys to support the struggle for gender equality in the world.

This celebration of men is also a call to action for those men who have been shirking their responsibilities to be more responsible.

Today, we salute our President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Vice President, Speaker of Parliament, male Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, traditional leaders, civil and public servants and the gallant veterans of the independence and all other males who have held the fort of the struggle of our national development to date.

We salute and celebrate all the sons of Ghana on behalf of all the daughters of Ghana, for their huge and enormous contributions and support, and wish to emphasise that all Ghanaian women should treat men and boys special, today.

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL MENS DAY AND GOD BLESS ALL MEN IN GHANA!!!

SIGNED

OTIKO AFISAH DJABA

MINISTER FOR GENDER, CHILDREN & SOCIAL PROTECTION