Six women contest Assembly Elections in Agona West

Only six women out of 74 candidates, representing 8.1 percent, are contesting the District Assembly Elections in the Agona West Municipality.

Mr Anobil Forson, Agona West Municipal Director of the Electoral Commission (EC) made this known to the Press at a five-day training programme for Election Officers at Agona Swedru.

He expressed regret that out of the 31 Electoral Areas in the Municipality, only six women were competing for the positions, thus allowing the men to dominate in the Assembly elections

Mr Forson was of the view that it would be better for women to play major roles in the District level Elections since it was non-partisan to enable them participate in decision-making processes in their localities.

He called on various women organizations to help champion the cause of women in the assembly elections.

On the training workshop, Mr Forson said three centres had been established at Agona Swedru, Agona Nyakrom and Bobikuma, where 414 verification officers, name list officers and Polling Officers (POs) were being trained.

He said each centre had 138 officers who were receiving top-up training on new rules and regulations governing the Assembly Elections after the Supreme Court stopped the first elections early this year.

The Agona West EC Director asked political parties leaders not to get involved in District Level Elections because the law did not allow that.

Mr Forson cautioned training officers not to compromise their work, adding that any least mistake could create trouble for the whole exercise which could tarnish the image of the Commission.

He said Ghanaians wished to see credible, free and fair elections, and expressed the hope that the officers would be well prepared to face the challenges ahead.

The District Level Elections would be held on September 1in all the 216 Municipal, Metropolitan and District Assemblies.