Eradicating slums and forced evictions in Ghana

Source: Daily Guide

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty has been observed every year since 1993 on 17^thOctober 2012. The General Assembly designated it by resolution 47/196 to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution in all countries, particularly in developing countries - a need that has become a development priority.

In Ghana, Amnesty International marked the day by organizing a public hearing on slums and forced evictions. It brought together participants from the Ministry of Water Resource Works and Housing, Ministry of Women and Children, Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Ghana Railway Development Authority and other senior public officials. The event also served as a platform to urge local authorities to end forced evictions, develop and adopt guidelines for evictions and push for the adoption of a national housing policy.

At the event, Hajia Hawawu Boya Gariba, Deputy Minister of Women and Children Affairs in Ghana said that the Government was committed to lead the crusade in charting the path for empowering and integrating women and children in the country’s development process. She added that the Ministry had been engaged to help promote the cessation of all forms of discrimination against women through its various stakeholder interactions.

Hajia Gariba said eliminating gender inequalities and achieving women and children’s empowerment was of paramount concern to the Ministry and commended Amnesty International for the initiative saying, “It is an excellent opportunity to have an open discussion about the need and the important role we can all play in guaranteeing the rights of women and children in Ghana”.

Full Story: Ghana News Agency

NB: Press Cutting Service

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