President of the University of Yale, Peter Salovey has lauded African women leaders who have played various developmental roles in their organizations.
According to him, economic development moves faster when women take the lead.
Mr. Salovey encouraged governments to uphold women rights and development.
Speaking at the Yale Leadership Forum in Accra, Mr. Salovey said women should continue to take advantage of leadership positions to propel economic development.
“Women in Africa must take advantage of lead roles in their countries, this will ensure faster development”.
Maria Teresa Fernandez De La Vega, the First Deputy Prime Minister of Spain, who was also present at the forum expressed worry at how equality is not advancing in Ghana and how it has been pushed to the background.
She said: “It is sad equality is seen as a catalyst for feminism when it only seeks to promote development, governance, respect, rights, freedom and change for a cause”.
“If equality is not advancing in Ghana, then there is or we have a serious problem at hand.”
Madam Fernandez De La Vega, who is also the President of Mujeres Por Africa, said this at the Yale Leadership Forum held in Accra.
It was on the theme: “Preparing the Next Generation of African Women Leaders”.
She also urged women to continue to broaden their knowledge on leadership.
Mr Peter Salovey, the President of Yale University, said in 2015, the network for African Women Leaders was launched to advance the prospects of their countries.
He said the vision of the Yale Africa initiative was transferred and was led by individuals who had given time, expertise and resources to support the worthy course in Africa.
Mr. Salovey noted that with an initial membership of 105, the Yale Africa Initiative could now boost of 200 members.
The forum which conveyed Yale alumni and non-alumni who have demonstrated distinction and a commitment to public service, served as a catalyst for brokering mentoring relationships between one generation of African leaders and of the next.
It also served as a platform to develop an action plan framework for leveraging the power of the network for greater impact around the continent.
The moderated discussion served to create open dialogue about the concrete actions necessary to disrupt existing paradigms constraining women’s access to leadership.
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By: Anita Arthur/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana
