Journalists asked to promote female politicians

Mr Sumaila Seidu Saaka, a Journalist, has urged his professional colleagues to work at promoting women to actively participate in politics and other social public issues seen as preserve for their men counterparts.

He said reporters should do stories geared towards uncovering barriers militating against women participation in politics.

Mr Saaka gave the advice at a media training workshop on the theme “Women in Decision Making: The role of the media for enhancing women’s political participation in local elections.”

He said the media’s role in partnering civil society in identifying and addressing factors affecting women and projecting their positive aspects would add to reduce the plight they face.

He said the media serve as mirror to the society and should therefore not entrench reportage against women participation in politics. Instead, it should be seen as an anchor for bringing and bridging women to be included in governance.

The training was held in Bolgatanga, and organised by Community Development and Advocacy Centre with sponsorship from IBIS Ghana, a non-governmental organisation

It was aimed at sensitising the media as a mechanism to support civil society organisations to promote women participation in local governance, and encourage them to increase their interests in all aspects of governance to fulfill their ambition and bring development.

Mr Saaka indicated that out of 58 women elected to Parliament, only three of them represented constituencies the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions and said more is required from the media to whip up interest of women, especially in these areas to go into politics.

Records from the Electoral Commission indicate that women elected from the nine districts in the Upper East Region in the 2010 District Assembly elections were 23 out of 396 contestants.

Mr James Dauda Abangos, Regional Director of National Youth Authority who is also a past Assembly member told Ghana News Agency said the figures indicate that current assemblies in the region have a total number of 43 women and 110 men appointed by government.