The Empowerment for Life organization has called for the passage of the affirmative action bill.
The group made the call as part of the celebration of International Women’s day.
The organization also urged government to set aside 50% of the 30% allocation for the appointment of persons into the assemblies for women.
They again called for the reactivation of the Women in Local Governance Fund to support women logistically to stand for elections at the local level.
According to them, it is crucial and ultimately important to bring to light the abysmal representation and participation of women in district and local level governance structures and call for a balance in this regard.
Mr. Fuseini Abdul Rahim, Advocacy and Gender at Empowerment for Life in a statement said they believe that women’s political participation is central to democratic governance since more than half of the world’s population are women and these numbers are even more pronounced in Ghana where women constitute 51.4% of the working age group in Ghana with 56.3% forming the active population. “92% of the women are in self-employed jobs compared to 69% of the men.”
He lamented that Ghanaian women still occupy lower status as compared to men in areas of political decision-making.
‘For Instance, in the 2016 District Assembly elections, a total of 18,938 persons made up of 17,783 men and 1,155 women participated and less than half of the figure were elected’.
Mr. Rahim disclosed that in Saboba District, out of 25 member representation in the District Assembly only 2 are women. Out of 39 members in the Savelugu District, only 3 are women. In the Nantong District, 2 women out of 28 members are represented in the Assembly. 1 woman out of 25 members in the Kumbungu District, 8 women out of 48 members in the Karaga District and 1 woman out of 29 members in the Mion District.
‘The situation above, highlights to a greater extend the levels of seclusion and unfavourable social and political climate that inhabits women’s active participation and involvement in district and community level governance’.
Noting that many barriers and discriminatory practices hinder women ability and interest to actively participate in the process of District level governance. Paramount among which includes culture and tradition, women multiple burdens, resource constraints and lack of affirmative policies and actions.
The world is celebrating International Women’s Day and for the whole of 2019 under the theme, “Balance For Better.”
FROM Eric Kombat, Tamale