To mark International Women’s Day, a group of distinguished Ladies gathered in the residence of Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, H.E Victor Smith, to celebrate the achievements, resilience and ongoing journey of women worldwide. It was also to create and nurture a bond of sisterhood and friendship, to network and pledge support for each other.
The wife of the Ambassador, Mrs. Adwoa Smith, hosted the women comprising the Deputy Head of Mission for the Embassy of Ghana, Jane Gasu Aheto; former US Ambassador to Ghana, Pamela Bridgewater; Ms. Karen Buress, Senior Advisor to the Deputy Secretary of Commerce; Patricia Sheikh, Former Head of international programmes at US Department of Agriculture; Joan Wadelton, Retired Foreign Service Officer, President of The Bridge;
wives of Ambassadors from different parts of Africa; and other high-level personalities.
The Guest Speaker, Ambassador Bridgewater, recounted the struggles that women had endured over the years: preventable deaths relating to childbirth in Africa and the fight with determination and one voice by women in America to be allowed to vote.
She recognized, however, that women’s representation around the world has increased, citing Ghana’s first female Vice president, Her Excellency Professor Jane Naana Agyeman, a distinguished scholar and public figure in her own right. Mention was also made of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former president of Liberia, Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of Tanzania, President Nandi- Ndaitwah of Namibia, first female Vice President of America, Kamala
Harris, and other great female achievers around the globe.
With all these achievements, women still face enormous challenges especially during war and conflicts when women endure sexual abuses, and rape is used as a weapon of war. She called on the gathering to be each other’s keeper.
“As we rise, we must help other women along the way.”
Mrs. Smith observed that from homes, communities, politics and diplomacy, women continue to contribute their quota to shaping societies and inspiring generations. She encouraged the women to share their pain and worries with trusted friends. “When women support one another, share ideas and lift each other up, we create pathways, greater opportunities for our daughters and for generations yet to come.”
