Cultural practices still hindering women in politics - Goh

Ho, June 21, GNA - Mr Mawutor Goh, Ho Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) on Tuesday said socio-cultural practices remained the major impediments holding back women to get actively involved in decision-making process.

He noted that despite the nation's steady democratic progress, many people in the communities still had funny biases against women. Mr Goh was speaking at a two-day workshop for aspiring assemblywomen in Ho. It was the first in a series and attracted participants from the Keta, Akatsi, South Dayi and South Tongu districts.

The workshop was held under the auspices of the National Association of Local Authority of Ghana (NALAG) and supported by the Canadian International Development Agency.

Mr Goh, who is also the vice president of NALAG, said with women constituting more than 50 percent of the national population, it was important that their voice be heard on socio-economic issues, adding that their non-involvement in certain frontline roles was affecting the implementation of issues concerning women.

He held that the intention of getting more women into decision-making process was not because they were better than the men but it was to balance the system.

Therefore when elected, the women should not regard their colleague assemblymen as competitors, he said, adding that deliberations of the assemblies are not a competition between women and their men counterparts.

Mr Goh mentioned the United States-sponsored Millennium Challenge Account from which Ghana is expected to be receiving 500 million dollars and said the country earned its inclusion as a beneficiary as a result of its democratic progress.

He therefore urged women to join in the system of governance at all levels to increase the gains in the democratic process. The workshop was held to identify, prepare and inspire women into the local government system, according to the organisers.