Women urged to be discerning this election year

Accra, March 7, GNA - Mrs Beatrice Sam, National Programme Co-ordinator of Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) on Sunday called on Ghanaian women to be discerning as politicians embarked on their electioneering campaign this year.

She said women, particularly those in the rural areas, were tired of empty promises by politicians, adding that parties that seek to win votes should focus on addressing concerns of women.

Mrs Sam said this at a church service at the Calvary Methodist in Accra to mark International Women's Day which falls on Monday, March 8, 2004 under the theme: "Betting on women for a better future". WiLDAF is a non-governmental organization and women's right network dedicated to promoting and strengthening strategies which link law and development to increase women's participation and influence at the community, national and international levels.

Mrs Sam said women were disadvantaged in their access to land, credit, capital and agricultural technologies and there still remained a number of cultural practices that were injurious and dehumanising to women.

"Women account for less than 10 percent of person in high offices such as parliament, ministerial appointments and board membership. There are discriminatory laws and practices in employment, marriage and divorce," she held.

Mrs Sam said the International Women's Day was a time to reflect on the progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by many ordinary women who played extraordinary roles in the history of women's rights in Ghana and across the world. She said Ghanaian women must reflect on the myriad of concerns that remained un-addressed by the government, society and at the individual level.

She called on all women who were 18 years and above to register and vote in this year's elections. "We ask women to support and to vote more women into parliament," she said.

Mrs Sam appealed to Ghanaians to offer prayers for all women in Ghana and the World on Monday, the International women's Day.