Globally, women are poorer than men. As the main caregivers of children, poverty hits them the hardest of all. For women living in extreme poverty, every day is a struggle to survive. They do not even have the means or education to adequately consider the negative repercussions on their environment or the advantages of sustainable living.

The feminization of poverty is a change in the levels of poverty. This is usually biased against women or female headed households. More specifically, it is an increase in the difference in the levels of poverty among women and men or among female versus male and couple headed households. It can also mean an increase of the role that gender inequalities have as a determinant of poverty.

A call has gone to the government to review and implement existing affirmative action measures for women.

Gender advocates have asked that government and its agencies, political parties and relevant public and private institutions should take actions that ensure and assure their active commitment to improving the current situation of women's low representation in politics and public appointive positions at all levels.

At a workshop in Akosombo, political parties with representation in Parliament called for the establishment of a voluntary quota of 30 per cent positions for women in the administration of political parties, the selection of parliamentary candidates and the appointment of district chief executives. The call for the implementation is part of the affirmative action to address the imbalances in representation at the different levels of the political spectrum.