At the 2025 Pan-African Women’s Day Commemoration held on Thursday, July 31, Member of Parliament for Klottey-Korle and Ghana’s representative to the Pan-African Parliament, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, made a passionate appeal for structural reforms to unlock the full potential of African women in agriculture, trade, and development.
She pointed out that although women make up the majority of the agricultural workforce, they are often denied land ownership, which limits their ability to access loans. “Ironically, studies show women are more reliable in loan repayments, yet they face the greatest barriers to accessing credit,” she noted.
On trade, where women dominate cross-border activity, Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings recommended the deployment of female customs and immigration officers at all borders. She said this would offer both practical support and protection to women traders, many of whom face harassment and exploitation.
Addressing the topic of reparations, she called for a shift in how Africa engages the global community. “We must view the transatlantic slave trade as a conquest; millions were taken as prisoners of war. Reparations should come in tangible forms such as infrastructure, technology, and energy investments that support African development,” she emphasized.
She also made two bold recommendations to further empower African women:
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Visibility of Women Leaders
She proposed the creation of short video profiles of women in the Pan-African Parliament to showcase their achievements and inspire younger generations. “If they can see it, they can aspire to it,” she said, highlighting the power of representation.
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Supporting Organic Cooperatives
Instead of steering women away from traditional cooperative models, she urged financial institutions to build around these existing systems. According to her, they often function more effectively and align closely with community needs.
Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings concluded by calling for African societies to finally recognize the immense contribution of women’s unpaid labour. “We must put a financial value on the unpaid labour of women on the continent to make sure that more women are empowered,” she stated.
