Gomoa Brofoyedur (C/R), April 2, GNA - Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth last month honoured Nana Apaade Abam I, Queen of Gomoa Brofoyedur in the Central Region.

The ceremony, which took place in London, coincided with Commonwealth Day, which fell on March 14, on the theme: 93Women as Agents of Change."

Nana Apaade was among four other women from the Commonwealth who were honoured for their roles in bringing socio-economic changes in their countries.

This year's Commonwealth Day marked the 100th anniversary of the International Women's Day and was a key milestone marking five years of the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It also marked the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality. In a message to encourage Commonwealth countries to maximise the impact of work on women empowerment, Dr Sylvia Anie-Akwetey, the Ghanaian Director of the Social Transformation Programmes at the Commonwealth Secretariat responsible for Education, Gender and Health, described women's empowerment as an important instrument needed to transform Ghana's socio-economic and political development. Dr Anie-Akwetey, who was formerly with Ghana AIDS Commission expressed joy about Nana Apaade Abam's inclusion in the recipients of the award and expressed the hope that the queen would initiate programmes to promote the attainment of the MDGs and to reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS.

She appealed to the countries of the Commonwealth to use gender equality which was fundamental to enhance democracy and peace to eliminate discrimination and violence against women and to enhance the empowerment of marginalised groups.

Nana Apaade Abam expressed gratitude to Dr Anie-Akwetey and Queen Elizabeth for the honour done her and gave the assurance that she would work hard to champion the course of women and children. 2 April 11