A day’s symposium on Gender-based Violence, under the theme: “Invest to Prevent Violence against Women”, has taken place at Obuasi in the Ashanti region.
Organised by AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mines, the Programme, which was heavily attended by women in particular, sought to bring out the many problems women go through and how to address them.
In her opening remarks, Social Development and Gender Superintendent of AGA, Mrs Mavis Nana Yaa Kyei, stated the position of the company on gender-based violence, when she said: “we firmly believe that violence against women and anyone at all, is an issue that demands urgent attention and we have taken comprehensive measures to ensure the wellbeing and protection of our workforce.”
She noted: “within the Obuasi mine, the authorities have implemented robust policies and procedures to prevent harassment and violence at the workplace.”
The Social Development and Gender Superintendent said the company’s zero-tolerance policy against any form of gender-based violence ensures that all employees are aware of their rights and responsibilities and encourages them to report any instances of misconduct through the company’s established confidential reporting mechanism, without fear of being victimised.
Contributing to a panel discussion on the theme, Mr. Samuel Asante Yeboah, head of the Obuasi sub-regional office of CHRAJ, said as it happens in all urban towns across the country, gender-based violence takes place in Obuasi and encouraged citizens in the mining town to report such cases to his office.
On his part, Rev. Emmanuel Kwame Anane of the Assemblies of God Church, said the church invariably settles cases involving spouses, but said where violence has been perpetrated and such cases are referred to the appropriate quarters.
The Adansihemaa, Nana Amonimaa Dede II, in her contribution, expressed worry over constant beating of women by their husbands, sometimes resulting in the death of the women and declared “please leave the marital home, don’t stay to be slaughtered.”
The Programme saw Pricilla Amponsah, a divorcee, who in a thirty minute narration recounted the ordeal she went through in the hands of a man, with whom she has two children and called on ladies who wish to go into marriage to think twice about decisions regarding their partners and marriage.
From Frederick Danso Abeam, Obuasi
