Women empowerment can fight sexual abuse - Vodafone CEO

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vodafone Ghana, Patricia Obo-Nai has divulged that the issue of rape in our society can only be tackled if women are empowered economically.

According to her, some members of society have promoted the belief that the “woman is a toy that is used to reduce stress”. However, if people in society begin to change their mindset and support women in education and career, the issue of rape will be heard of less often.

In an interview on the Y Leaderboard series of the Myd Morning show with Rev.Erskine, she stated: “Society encourages some form of behaviour by our beliefs and until we are able to swing the minds of people through education and for women to be able to stand on their feet, we won’t solve it. That is why when I talk about empowering women it goes beyond just putting money in their hands and earning wages.

It is about educating the person, putting power in the person’s hand and so many women have succumbed to rape and abuse because they are not economically empowered. If she could stand on her feet, would she go to this boy and ask for money and her body will be demanded in exchange?”

She was of the view that conquering the canker of rape in our society goes beyond making laws to punish the perpetrators.

She stressed, “It is really fixing the society by empowering the woman. Give her the opportunity to stand on her feet, give her the job, when the opportunity comes for her to rise to the top allow her to do it, let her go to school and she will not be dependent on people who take advantage of her”.