Qualified women data bank advocated for Ghana

Damongo (N/R), July 30, GNA - Madam Anna Maria Fati Paul, a retired educationist, as called for the establishment of a data bank on qualified women in the country for use by government, policy makers and concern organisations in appointing women to high positions in the district, regional and national levels.

She said women participation in all aspects of the political, social and economic endeavours at the district, regional and national levels of development should also be encouraged to ensure sustained democracy and good governance.

Madam Paul, who is also the Executive Director of Long Term Human Resource Foundation for Orphans (LTHRFO), an NGO, who spoke on: " Active Participation in Politics, Gender and Development Issues - The Role of Women in Northern Ghana", made the call at a two-day workshop on "All Inclusive And Effective Participation In Governance" at Damongo in the West Gonja District of the northern Region on Friday. She urged the government to set up a committee with the NCWD as a coordinator to arrange to have leaders of all women's wings of various political parties, and sensitise them to ensure that at least 30 per cent of women were put up for elections.

Aspiring assembly members, assembly members, members of women associations, the physically challenged and traditional rulers from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions attended the forum, which was on the theme, "The Gender Challenge-Rights, Responsibilities and Representation in the Structure of Governance at local level".

Tamale Ecclesiastical Province Pastoral Conference (TEPPCON), a Church NGO organised the workshop with sponsorship from ActionAid International-Ghana, a British NGO to build the capacity of the participants to advocate for structures and systems that would promote gender sensitivity and progress as well as transparency and accountability to bring about good governance.

The 50 participants were taken through topics on: "Active participation in politics, gender and developmental issues - The Role of Women in Northern Ghana, the Electoral Laws, Accessing Traditional Authority, as partners for all inclusive good governance and development and the catholic social teaching and all-inclusive participation in politics and good governance at the local level Madam Paul called on political parties to examine their manifestos and include policies that promote the advancement of women. She urged National Commission on Women Development (NCWD) to coordinate activities of women's desk established at all government ministries, agencies and departments and use statistical gender analysis for mainstream gender perspective in policy development and implementation.

"There must be a mechanism for monitoring and evaluating implementation of affirmative action", she pointed out. Mr Donald Amuah, Director of World Neighbours, an NGO who spoke on: "Assessing Traditional Authorities for Partnership for Good Governance and Development at the Local Level, said recognitions of traditional rulers in the structures of good governance would help bring about a total development of the people.

He, however, admitted that traditional authorities were not immune from the ills of lack of transparency and accountability that had plagued "our modern state institutions".

Mr Amuah said there was the need to identify the potential of traditional rulers to build their capacities for accountability and management and partner with them for development. He called on the government and all other relevant institutions to strengthen the national, regional and district houses of chiefs' structures for meaningful partnership for development. Mr Kweku Koranteng, Upper West Regional Programme Manager of ActionAid International-Ghana said building and strengthening the power of people living in poverty to claim their rights and live a life of dignity was among the strategies of the NGO. 30 July 06

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