UNFPA Ghana launched the 2019 State of World Population report on the side-lines of the Female CEOs and Business Executive breakfast meeting, of Glitz Africa’s annual Ghana Women of the Year Honours. The UNFPA Ghana Representative, Mr. Niyi Ojuolape in a presentation shared with the female CEOs and notable female personalities present, the statistics on gender parity the world over. He stated that globally, 6% of boards were chaired by women and as low as 2% of the world’s CEOs are women. These and many other indicators are testaments that gender inequality is a global issue which needs a concerted effort from nations to be overcome. In launching the UNFPA’s flagship publication, SWOP 2019, entitled “The Unfinished Business; the pursuit of rights and choices for all”, Mr. Ojuolape reiterated that 760 million people in the world are still victimized by harmful practices such as female genital mutilation, marriage and a host of other debilitating gender disparity enablers. In the pursuit of rights and choices for all, there is still much left to be done.

Claudia Lumor, CEO of Glitz Africa and the UNFPA Ghana Ambassador in her opening remarks at the breakfast meeting talked about her passion for gender issues and the welfare of women in general. She said she is committed to celebrating women on annual basis using the Glitz Africa’s annual event of “The She Summit and the Ghana Women of the Year Honours Awards”.  The breakfast meeting, is the first of its kind and she intends to keep it for corporate women to discuss issues of gender at the workplace. She used toe occasion to call for individuals and organisations to join the Friends of UNFPA to assist in advocating for reproductive health and rights for all especially women and girls.

Also speaking at the event was Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, the first female Chief-of-Staff to the Office of the President of the Republic of Ghana. She reaffirmed that the event was not only an occasion for networking among outstanding women, but was also an occasion to highlight discussions around ensuring that women have equal representation in socio-economic decision making.

There was a panel discussion on gender issues such as gender-based violence and sexual harassment at the work place and how women can take the issues affecting them to another level for a positive impact on gender as a whole.