Advocacy for women leadership is not a power struggle with men – DCD Director

Nafisah Yahaya, the Upper West Regional Director of the Department of Community Development (DCD), has said the advocacy for women to take up leadership positions in the development space is not a struggle for power with men.

She said women represent a significant proportion of the country's population demographics and therefore should form part of the core of society's leadership

She said this during a She Leads inter-generational dialogue between female leaders and girls and young women in Washington.

The dialogue was organized by Community Aid for Rural Development (CARD Ghana) and the She Leads Social Movement under the She Leads Campaign, which is being implemented in the Upper West Region with support from Plan International Ghana.

"Women's leadership is not a power struggle. We are not struggling for power. It is never a power struggle between men and women," she said.

She indicated that development is a collective responsibility and requires the participation of both men and women to attain holistic growth in society.

The director said the neglect or relegation of one person, especially women, to the backdrop would make development one-sided since their perspectives do not get considered.

Meanwhile, the Upper West Regional Director of the Department of Gender, Charity Batuure, said women should not be confined in their 'comfort zones' but challenge themselves to attain greater feats.

She said women should venture into positions or roles that are male-dominated but not female-forbidden.

"Women are mostly selected as secretaries to committees when they could actually be the chairpersons too, and interestingly, the women could even perform better in the lead role than the men," she said.

Batuure further admonished women to invest in their skills by seeking opportunities for further education and continuous learning in order to become exceptional in whatever roles they find themselves in.

The President of the Upper West Chapter of the She Leads Social Movement, Felicia Baganiah, said the dialogue was aimed at bringing experienced female leaders and rising female leaders and activists to a platform for learning and sharing.

In her opening remarks, the Acting Executive Director of CARD Ghana, Ernestina Biney, said the dialogue aimed to create a platform for uniting the efforts of female leaders and girls and young women in breaking barriers, building bridges, and creating a better future for all.

"To our young leaders, we believe in your potential and your passion. We see the fire in your eyes and the desire to make a difference, and we are committed to supporting and empowering you to become the leaders and changemakers of tomorrow. We will engage in open and honest conversations, share our stories and experiences, and explore the challenges and opportunities of our time," she indicated.

The dialogue saw in attendance queen mothers, women in civil society and civil service, and young women activists from across the Upper West Region.