Educate Women On Their Potential in Political Arena

Ghanaian Chronicle (Accra)
July 20, 2006

By Phyllis D. Osabutey

THE PRESIDENT of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Ghana, Her Lordship Justice Margaret Insaidoo, has stressed the need for women to be educated on their potential as dynamic leaders and be provided with requisite knowledge to participate in decision taking at all levels of governance.

According to her, there was an alarming gap of gender disparity at national levels where women constitute less than 20% of government officials, saying, "The attainment of gender equality in decision-making, as well as other areas of life, is fundamental to the sustainable growth of a nation."

She said it is an extreme waste of human resources to leave talented and capable women out of governance, stressing that it has become imperative now, more than ever, that Ghana make efforts to reach an equal balance between men and women in government, not only in sheer numbers but also in relative power and visibility.

Her Lordship was speaking at the launch of a handbook titled "A Guide To Women Participation In Public Office" in Accra yesterday, published by FIDA with support from the United States Democracy and Human Rights Fund.

The handbook is aimed at assisting women in their quest for public office; equip them with adequate knowledge and skills to empower them in their campaign and election into public office.

It addresses issues of fundraising techniques, speech writing, media relations, effective communication strategies, general campaign management and procedures for running office.

With just about a month to the District Level Elections, the FIDA President said FIDA was determined to remain consistent in advocating for the ultimate goal of attaining gender equality in governance.

"There still remains the need to educate voters on gender issues in order to give equal opportunity for women to confidently participate in elections at the district and national levels," she stressed, adding that it was important that women aspirants were provided with requisite skills to successfully campaign for office.

Further, she expressed regret that although "the Affirmative Action Policy of Government to appoint a third of government appointees, according to section 5(1) (b) of the Local Government Act, has been encouraging, this is yet to be reflected in all 138 District Assemblies."

She noted that though the law requires the appointment of 30% women in the Assemblies, there was no compliance to this effect as males were still dominating the District Assembly Elections with an example in 1998, where "The number of male contestants in the District Assembly elections in Ghana, was 14,673, as compared to only 547 female contestants."

To reverse the trend, she urged all women advocacy non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to rally behind the Women and Children Affairs Ministry (MOWAC) to lobby the enactment of the Affirmative Action Policy and Civil Society, to also ensure its strict compliance.

Also, she commended the media for their role in women empowerment and urged them not to focus only on women in business and professional careers but create a supportive environment for women to actively participate in leadership roles in public office.

"The media must therefore be adequately informed to be able to take up issues with government to improve women's participation in politics", she concluded.

In a short message, the Head of the Women's Department of MOWAC, Mrs. Francesca Pobi-Hayford, commended FIDA for putting together a handbook to help women in their efforts to attain public office, saying "It is in the right direction and at a most opportune time for women contestants in the upcoming District Level Elections.

She said the world was currently suffering from good governance because the voices of women, who constituted a large number of the world's population, were not heard though they were the most affected by any decisions taken by governments and, most often, men.

She urged all eligible women to participate in the District Level Elections as well as the National Elections to help bridge the wide gap in gender disparity in governance in the country.

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