IWD2023: Bethany Ghana Celebrates Ghanaian Women

As a single mother, Adwoa had to navigate the difficult task of raising all her three children on her own, with little support from their absent fathers. Despite this, she worked tirelessly to provide for her children, sometimes resorting to begging to ensure that they had enough food and clothing.

When the pressure became too much to bear, Adwoa made the difficult decision to leave her children in the care of her mother, Mary, and seek opportunities abroad. While this decision was undoubtedly a painful one for Adwoa, it allowed her children to stay with her family while she pursued a better life for them all.

Mary, for her part, rose to the challenge of caring for her grandchildren, aging mother, and sick husband. With Adwoa's departure, she became an entrepreneur, starting her own business providing gari for households in Ghana. Through her hard work and determination, Mary's business thrived, allowing her to provide for her family's needs and ensure that her grandchildren could continue their education. Even in the face of adversity, Adwoa and Mary never gave up. They worked tirelessly to create better lives for themselves and their families, demonstrating the strength and resilience of women in the face of difficult circumstances. Their story is a reminder that women have the ability to provide for their families, even in the toughest of times and Bethany Ghana is privileged to have played a role in their success story. Despite the progress that has been made towards gender equality in Ghana, women still face significant barriers when it comes to inheriting assets from their husbands. In many cases, women are denied their rightful inheritance, which can have devastating consequences for themselves and their families just like the story of Gladys.

Gladys was once a proud wife and mother, living a fulfilling life with her husband. They owned a cocoa farm in Ghana. But when her husband passed away, Gladys found herself in a tough situation. The family of her late husband came for their cocoa farm, and Gladys knew she couldn't fight back. She didn't want to risk her life, and she certainly didn't want to leave her children behind without a guardian. And so, she left everything behind and started from scratch, managing and caring for her kids.

“I believe my husband died because of the cocoa farm and I didn’t want to also die” she said. Working with Gladys to support her, Bethany Ghana better understood the plight of women such as Gladys. Gladys' story is not unique in Ghana. Many women in the country are facing similar challenges when it comes to inheriting assets they made with their husbands while they were alive, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse by their husbands' families.

As the world celebrates International Women's Day 2023, it's a time to reflect on the resilience and strength of women everywhere. This day reminds us of the countless women who have faced adversity and overcome it, shining a light on their stories and inspiring us all to continue fighting for a better tomorrow for all women.

We are fortunate to have numerous strong, inspirational women like Gladys and Mary making a difference in their communities each day in Ghana. We at Bethany Ghana are of the opinion that each woman is entitled to a bright future and we work to make available resources that can assist women and girls in overcoming obstacles like poverty, lack of education, and gender-based violence.

Bethany Ghana’s Family Preservation Program, helps to provide women and girls access to training and resources. We believe that women's empowerment must include economic empowerment. We do this by giving women training and support so that they can be able to care for their families. We know that women can break the cycle of poverty and build a better future for themselves and their communities if they have access to the resources they need to support themselves and their families.

On behalf of Bethany Ghana, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the amazing women out there. We are proud to stand with you and support your journey towards equality and empowerment. Happy International Women's Day!