Women Urged to Get Involved in Local Government

WOMEN HAVE been called upon to get involved in local government as this would enable them bring to the fore pertinent issues confronting them.

Ms. Sussie Mensah, an executive director of Ark Foundation, an NGO, made the call at a two-day workshop organised for women contesting the district level elections at Koforidua, last Tuesday.

The capacity-building workshop was to help the women candidates acquire skills which would enable them campaign effectively.

According to Ms. Mensah, the workshop also aimed at whipping up the confidence of the candidates so that they could play effective leadership roles in their communities.

"Even those who do not win the elections can still play leadership roles," she emphasized.

Ms. Mensah said it is important for women to get involved in government at the local level since that is where development starts and women can contribute a lot in that area.

"This is why there is the need for capacity-building, to help women participate in roles which they have formerly been excluded from," she explained.

In an address, the New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Nana Adjei Boateng, noted that the development of every district hinges on its assembly, adding that there is the need for a fair representation as issues discussed at the assembly concerns both men and women.

The 146 participants, drawn from all the 15 districts in the Eastern Region, were taken through lectures on the role of district assemblies as well as public speaking skills.