The Church of Pentecost is taking steps to address the high rate of unemployment among women in Ghana and the resulting exploitation of women by men who lure them with promises of marriage and support.
The church’s women’s ministry is hosting a conference for women, particularly the younger ones, to teach them safe dating tips and provide them with vocational skills training.
General Secretary of the church, Apostle Samuel Gyau Obuobi, said the church believes that equipping women with employable skills is the surest way to redeem them from vulnerable situations that will push them to seek out men for support.
“We are worried about this phenomenon where young women are taken advantage of because of their vulnerability,” Obuobi told Citi News. “Some of these women don’t have employable skills and see the men as their best bet. Some end up disappointed while others end up successful but what we are saying as a church is that it is time to give these young women employable skills to equip them in other not for them to fall pray.”
The conference participants will learn skills in pastries, sugar crafts, and other vocational areas. They will also receive some financial support from the church to enable them to start their own businesses.
The church also plans to organize a separate conference for men to admonish them against stressing women in the name of relationships.
Some members of the women’s ministry shared their experiences with Citi News and expressed their delight at the opportunity to take part in the skills development conference.
“This conference has provided us the opportunity to have a better understanding of relationship issues while equipping us with the modern employable skills to make us less vulnerable to the opposite sex,” said Rachel Antwi, a participant at the conference.