He said the Ministry, guided by its vision and mission had developed policies and programmes, including the establishment of Women's Development Fund, as a poverty reduction strategy to enhance their socio-economic status.

The Deputy Minister who was speaking at the launching of the Brong Ahafo Regional branch of Ghana Association of Women Entrepreneurs (GAWE) and 2005 Women Entrepreneurs' Week in Sunyani, said his Ministry has developed and launched the National Gender and Children Policy framework to guide its activities.

Mr. Boakye Danquah also noted that his ministry has developed a three-year strategic framework, which is to be lunched, to guide the development of a sector-wide programme for Gender and Children.

"As part of the strategic objectives of the government's declaration of the "Golden Age of Business", the government is pursuing and facilitating women's equal access to resources, employment, markets and trade, alongside providing business services, training and access to markets, information and technology", he added.

The Deputy Minister said his Ministry was prepared to collaborate with GAWE to promote and support its initiatives and expressed the hope that members of the Association would use this year's celebration to review their past activities, the gaps, challenges and gains to re-strategize the plans of the Association.