NGO Calls For Gender Balance In Workplace

Accra,(Greater Accra) 6 Nov. A three-day seminar for Gender-Oriented Development (GADNET) in Ghana ended at the week-end at Abokobi with a call for a closer working relationship between women and men to foster development. The seminar was organised by the Presbyterian Women's Centre and funded by the African Desk of EZE, an international NGO. It was attended by 35 participants from 17 NGO's involved in women and development and gender issues as well as executives of women's societies in various churches. A statement signed by the Rev. Rose Akua Ampofo, Director of the Centre, said participants were informed of activities of the ecumenical decade of ''Churches in Solidarity with Women'' which comes to a close in 1998. GADNET, which was formed at the end of the seminar, stressed that ''gender is not simply about promoting women's development. ''It questions the relationship of power between individuals, generations and attempts to change those structures which perpetuate inequality.'' The statement noted that for effective cooperation, improved communication and exchange of ideas between NGO's and the churches were identified as a priority in promoting gender oriented development.