Women advised to use media to project their image

Ho, Nov. 22, GNA- Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, Volta Regional Minister on Saturday appealed to aspiring women politicians to use the media for the enhancement of their capacities and capabilities to play their role in the democratic process. Opening a two-day seminar for female Parliamentarians in Ho, Mr Owusu-Yeboa said what seemed to be a limitation on the hopes and aspirations for women was traditional, cultural beliefs and practices.

He said actions and activities of Women Media And Change (WOMEC), an Accra based NGO were changing the negative perception about women and the society slowly but steadily, "seeing the need for a change in cultural beliefs and practices as they retard the progress of women".

The Regional Minister, therefore, called on society particularly gender focused groups to direct their attention to the use of the press to kick against the negative aspects of cultural practices which hinder development and progress of women.

Mr Owusu-Yeboa said the region could boast of only one female parliamentarian but was convinced that women would take opportunities available to them to strive harder, and rob shoulders with their male counterparts. This, he hoped, would enable them to occupy positions of trust and responsibility and win more seats in Parliament.

Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong, Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, advised women to abandon the saying that politics has been perceived to be a man's game and therefore, when they enter it, they have the feeling that they were participating in a game of men.

He said the call for increased women participating in the Legislative process to make Parliament more democratic and representative of the people and "family-friendly" is more appropriate than ever before.

Mr Owusu-Adjapong noted that bringing more women into Parliament would improve governance, as women are more honest, co-operative, social and able to deal with issues affecting women.

"The need for more women in parliament for increased women participation in the Legislative process can therefore not be overemphasised", he said. The majority Leader said for more women to enter Parliament, they must avoid unnecessary ridicule of their male counterparts and the society since they need to broaden their knowledge on all issues of social and economic development and focus on gender roles such as child care, reproductive health and education. Mr Doe Adjaho, Minority Chief Whip and MP for Avenor called on the participants to form women caucus in parliament to enable them involve in the disbursement of funds meant for women activities.

He asked them to remove all partisan considerations about whichever party they belonged to in order to speak with one voice.

Miss Susan Parker-Burns, Information Officer of the United States Embassy, Accra told the participants that by serving in Parliament they would be helping to break down gender-related barriers and create a brighter future for women.

Mrs Charity Binka, Co-ordinator of the seminar said in a welcome address, that the objectives of the seminar are to explore ways to support women Parliamentarians to develop their skills in media usage, provide resources to develop their analytical research skills and to expose them to practices that will enhance their leadership, presence and visibility in the legislature.

She said other objectives are to support them to strengthen their team building and relationship development and to enhance their marketability and position themselves for the next elections.

The seminar, sponsored by the US Embassy, had the theme: "women in Politics-Developing media Skills, Tools and Practices for Effective Participation of Women in Parliament".