MOWAC to support female aspirants

Published in the Daily Graphic on 26/08/2010, pg 11

Story: Matilda Attram
The Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC) has relaunched a programme of activities to support women aspirants in the upcoming district assembly elections.
The support is in the form of jingles in six local languages, a cash of GH¢10,000 and the launch of a 96-page training manual on how to contest elections.
The programme is being undertaken by the ministry, in collaboration with its development partners and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
Speaking at the launch, the Deputy Minister of MOWAC, Madam Hawawu Gariba Bouya, stated that women contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of every nation but lacked behind their male counterparts in key decision making processes.
She described development as total human centred entity which involved majority of the populace, especially women.
She stressed the need to recognise the role of women in society to move Ghana forward in the right direction.
“It is necessary that as a nation, we recognise the importance of this exercise which seeks to involve the critical mass of the people who happen to be women to be part of the decision-making process in the country”, she stated.
The Minister of MOWAC, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, said the government paid much attention to the participation of women in decision making, adding that women were significant, legitimate and competent actors in society which gave them enough ability to participate in both formal and informal sectors of decision making processes.
She said although the Affirmative Action Policy guidelines of 1998 granted 40 per cent quota to women’s representation on policy making bodies and councils, much had still not been achieved as women continued to remain underrepresented at all levels of development, adding “We are still far from even the target of 30 per cent of decision making positions”.
“Though minimal, our efforts will continue and be sustained until the number of women participating in district level elections increases, and subsequent to that, increase our numbers at the parliamentary level as well”, added Mrs Azumah-Mensah.
The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, added his voice to the importance of promoting women’s representation in local governance, saying “promoting women in district assembly elections is crucial due to the significant role they play at the grassroots”.
He said although women had little influence in the formal level of decision making processes, they played major roles in the informal sectors, especially in shaping the individual and society.
He further urged all to support women in taking leadership roles at the local levels to promote development.
The Member of Parliament for New Juabeng South Constituency, Madam Beatrice Boateng, who chaired the function, shared her experience in participating in local and national governance with the invited guests and encouraged prospective contestants to be focused in attaining their aims, as well as doing away with timidity and fear.