DCE calls for women's active participation in politics

Bole (N/R), Feb 16, GNA - Alhaji Sulemana Adams Achanso, Bole District Chief Executive has urged politicians and civil society to encourage women to participate actively in politics.

He said this was necessary to ensure gender equality in the political playing field for both men and women to contribute their quota to the socio-economic development of the country.

Alhaji Achanso was speaking at a one-day seminar on: "Women's participation in politics", at Bole.

The Centre for Rural Improvement Services (CRIS), a local NGO at Damongo in the West Gonja District organised the seminar.

More than 96 representatives from various women's groups, traditional rulers, youth associations, tailors and hairdressers attended the seminar jointly funded by the Ghana Aids Commission and ActionAid Ghana.

The DCE said it is regrettable that although women contribute about 60 per cent to agricultural production, they are not encouraged to play any meaningful political or economic roles to earn them public recognition.

Alhaji Achanso said the government, realising the discrimination to which women have been subjected in society, has therefore increased girls' enrolment at all levels of education and has also ensured that about 50 per cent of government appointees to the District Assemblies are women.

At the end of the seminar the participants issued a 10-point communiqu=E9, which among other things, called for gender equity in all matters affecting the family and a reduction in the marginalisation of women in African politics.

The communiqu=E9 appealed to the NGOs and other civil society organisations to intensify their literacy programmes and also organise training programmes to sensitise women to identify their potentials in political activism, as well as their civic responsibilities.

The communiqu=E9 also requested the District Assemblies to facilitate the operation of the Unit and Area Councils to assist women in deprived areas to file their nominations during all elections in the country.