The National Association of Local Authorities (NALAG) has bemoaned the poor representation of women at the district level.
At a media briefing in Accra, President of NALAG, Eric Nana Agyemang Prempeh called on President Akufo-Addo to appoint more women after the district level elections to make up for the shortfall.
The Association has observed that out of the 9,117 assembly members only 837 are women, a situation NALAG said is caused by socio-cultural factors.
The Association is therefore supporting over 300 women to win the upcoming District Level Elections in their electoral areas.
To increase women participation at the local level of governance, NALAG has therefore partnered with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to implement the Partnership for Municipal Innovation- Women in Local Leadership (PMI-WILL) project.
The six-year project is taking place in 5 countries namely; Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Benin, Zambia and Ghana. In Ghana, the project is taking place in 5 regions and in 5 Districts namely; Greater Accra Region represented by Tema Metropolitan Assembly, in the Saboba district of the Northern Region, Nandom in the Upper West Region, Atebubu Amantin in the Bono East Region. In the Eastern Region, the project is being implemented in the Kwahu West Municipal.
The project aims to enhance the enjoyment of rights of girls and women and other marginalized groups. The two main objective of the project is to: Increase women’s capacity to lead in local governance and Increase local government’s capacity to deliver inclusive, gender-responsive services.
According to the National President, “Through this project, we have supported over 300 women through capacity building trainings to equip them for the election.
I wish to call on all stakeholders; The Electoral Commission (EC), The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and all other stakeholders to within these few days, vigorously campaign to increase voter turnouts. It’s better late than never”.
NALAG observed that in the appointment of regional directors and ministers, out of the 16 regions only two females have been appointed as ministers while only two Chief Directors are women in the 16 regions.
In the Appointments of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives out of the 261 only 39 are women.
For Coordinating Directors, out of the total number of 261 only 39 are women.
This, the Association said, should not be allowed to fester.
NALAG therefore called on the President to do the needful by appointing more women into higher offices.
A guide for women candidates contesting this year’s local level elections was also launched.
By Richard Bright Addo