By Samuel Adadi Akapule, Navrongo(UE)
Our Lady of Mercy(OLAM) Kaana Manga Women Association , in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality of the Upper East Region, have called on Political parties to unveil their manifestoes to enable them make informed choice during the impending general election.
According to the women , the timely release of the political parties’ manifestoes would enable them to know the kind of package they have for them and their children and make them better informed as to which party to cast their votes for in the forthcoming general elections.
Speaking to the Ghanaweb in Navrongo , Madam Patricia Kanluke , one of the leaders of the group, who expressed concern about the delay of the Political parties in coming out with their manifestoes , stated that women had been relegated to the background for far too long and would not sit down this time round to be cheated by the political parties.
“Political parties have relegated us as women to the background for far too long and we will not sit down this time round for them to cheat us. After unveiling their manifestoes to us whichever party wins the election we will ensure that they implement the issues relating to women and children as stated in their manifestoes” , Madam Kanluke stated.
Currently the women group through a Radio Programme which is dubbed ”Kaana Manga” , literally means women’s time in the Kasim Language , organised by the Nabina FM, a local FM station based in Navrongo in collaboration with Our Lady of Mercy(OLAM) Community Service, an NGO, is demanding that political parties inform them about what they have in stock for them and their children .
The Project Director of OLAM, Mr Emmanuel Atiga , explained that the programme which is being sponsored by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA ) was aimed at whipping up the interest of many women to actively participate in the political processes of the country particularly at the grassroots.
He regretted that in spite of the fact that women formed the majority of the population in the country, only few of them express interest to participate in the political processes of the country.
He mentioned for instance that the Kassena-Nankana Municipal Assembly has only one woman representing the chunk of women in the area,and pointed out the scenario was not limited only to the Kassena-Nankana West District but cuts acrossall the thirteen Districts in the Region..
He stated the project has among its package to rekindle the spirit of more women to actively participate in the decision making process by building the capacity of the Manga Women Association who would in turn groom very dynamic young women in the area to take keen interest in the decentralization process of the District.
He mentioned Child marriages and Domestic violence as some of the major problems confronting the area, and indicated that his outfit in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development and the Navrongo Traditional Council had managed to curb the menace.
“The Ghana Health Service and the National Disaster Management Organization is also partnering with the NGO and the Manga Women Association to sensitize women on health andvulnerability issues through radio programme”, the Project Director stressed.
Some of the members of Our Lady of Mercy(OLAM) Kaana Manga Women Association , being hosted by Nabina FM
GNA
