Kumasi, June 23, GNA - A trade unionist has advocated more empowerment and capacity building of women, to enable them to respond to opportunities in the trades union.

Women should also be assisted to take concrete steps to eliminate barriers, inhibiting them from fully participating in labour union activities.

Miss Teresa Naadia Abugah, Head of Women's Desk of the Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), who made the call, said 93Integration of women issues and women participation in the affairs of trades union must be appreciated as extremely critical".

She was addressing the opening session of the third quadrennial national delegates conference of the Timber and Woodworkers' Union (TWU) Women's Committee at the Public Services Workers' Union Centre (PSWUC), in Kumasi.

The theme for the two-day conference being attended by 120 delegates is "Accelerating the integration and promotion of women's participation through education and training in the forestry and wood sector."

The event would enable participants to take stock of their activities over the past four years, and to take decisions that would help consolidate gains made.

Miss Abuga congratulated the GTUC for its continued support for women pursuing various educational programmes at the nation's universities, to upgrade their skills and knowledge.

Miss Naomi Dede Otoo, Second Vice-Chairperson of the GTUC, said it was worrying that the nation was not deriving the expected benefit from its forest resources due to illegal chainsaw and mining activities.

She called on the leadership of the TUC and the Women's Committee to support the government to tackle the menace.

Ms Georgina Fletcher, National Chairperson of the TWU, asked members to work hard for the growth of the union.

Miss Abigail Osei, Ashanti Regional Chairperson, said it was time members shook off traditional and negative tendencies towards national issues.