Consider 20% Position of DEC's for Women

The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Ghana) on Wednesday called on the NPP government to consider at least 20 per cent of the 110 District Chief Executive (DCE) posts for women.

FIDA "urges President John Agyekum Kufuor to exercise his prerogative under Article 243(1) and 242(d) of the 1992 constitution to appoint more women on merits for the DEC's and as assembly members."

Ms Gloria Ofori-Boadu, FIDA Executive Director told the Ghana News Agency in Accra, that "there exist a large number of competent, qualified and efficient women in the country who have demonstrated considerably leadership in both formal and informal organisations and still have a lot to offer the nation."

She said unless the President exercise a positive action to appoint such women to public offices the nation would continue to lose their contributions because of discriminatory attitudes, negative perceptions and social norms, and the unequal power relations of men and women.

Ms Ofori-Boadu explained that "the appointment of at least 20 percent women DEC's and about 12 percent of the government's 30 percent appointees to the district assemblies would enhance transparency and accountability at the local levels of governance."

This, she believed, would translate into the main stream politics positively as women would be groomed through the district levels to embrace national politics for the development of democracy in the country.

She said "our democracy must develop totally through the involvement of both women and men together, as male or women dominated society cannot be described as democratic."

The FIDA Executive Director stressed that the time to act is now, and called on the ministers of Local Government and Rural Development, and Women Affairs to personally ensure that women are dully represented at the districts assemblies.

Ms Ofori-Boadu stated that "the involvement of women in decision-making and public office is essential for the achievement of both transparent and accountable government and administration for sustainable development in all sphere of life."

Meanwhile the Federation has expressed dissatisfaction about the lack of commitment of the government in the budget statement on issue of maternal mortality even though the NPP manifesto expressed the intention to reduce mortality by 50 percent.

FIDA said complications related to pregnancy and childbirth continue to rank among the leading causes of mortality among women in the country.

"The high incidence of maternal deaths deprives families, communities and the nation of the contribution women in their productive years," the federation noted.

FIDA, therefore, called on the government to support and implement policies aimed at reducing maternal mortality with particular attention to the provision of affordable and high quality maternal and emergency obstetric care services.