‘Absence of women in MMDAs hinders quality administration’

Mr Saani Musah Imoro, Assemblyman for Daduri electoral area in the Bawku Municipality of the Upper East Region has observed that the absence of women in some Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) would have a negative effect on quality administration.

“The absence of women in this assembly and others like it implies that the interest of women will always be overshadowed by men and they cannot actively participate in the decision making process that would enhance the development of the area”, he said .

Mr Imoro made the observation in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Bawku, during which he dwelt on the harm the absence of women in the MMDAs would cause since there would not be a balanced decision that would favour the entire community.

He explained that women were nation builders and had experience in every aspect of development, and so there was the need for them to be given a major role in the district sub-committees so that they could contribute their knowledge towards the development of their communities.

Mr Imoro noted that even if they were not elected, a good percentage of the government appointees in the assemblies could have been women.

He said in the case of the Bawku Municipal Assembly, 20 men were elected as assembly members with nine government appointees made up of six men and only three women which he noted was very discouraging and would have negative effects on the work of the assembly.

Mr Imoro said his electoral area was noted as one of the flash points when it comes to the Bawku ethnic conflict, and he had been collaborating with some partners to embark on educating the youth in the area to desist from violent acts since it would destroy their future.

He hinted that he was lobbing with the house to enact bye-laws to stop night entertainments such as Jams and funerals in order to minimise the incidence of loitering in the night by the youth.

The Assemblyman called on stakeholders including the Muslim and Christian clergies, opinion leaders and traditional rulers to champion the crusade in reshaping the youth since they were the future leaders.