A women’s rights advocacy Organization, ABANTU for Development has organised a workshop to provide a platform for women parliamentary aspirants, political parties, civil society organisations, the media and other key stakeholders to discuss ways of advancing women’s participation and representation in the upcoming General Elections.
The workshop, supported by the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF),was one of the key activities being implemented by ABANTU under a project christened, “Strengthening Activism for a Gender-Responsive Elections 2024 in Ghana”
While taking into consideration the passage of Ghana’s Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, the event was further to canvas votes, particularly, for women Parliamentary aspirants who will be contesting in the upcoming General election on December 7, 2024.
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Representatives of political parties including, NDC, PNC, CPP PPP, PNP among others participated i the well-attended workshop.
Ghana has made great strides in terms of political stability, since the country’s return to multi-party democracy in 1992. Ghana has held eight (8) successive elections, since then, which have been considered credible, peaceful, free and fair. However, the participation of vulnerable groups, especially, women, young women and persons with disabilities (PWDs) has remained extremely low. This low representation is evidenced in the fact that women constitute only 14.5% out of the two hundred and seventy-five (275) Members of Parliament.
Welcoming participants to the workshop, ABANTU’s Resource Mobilization and Sustainability Manager Madam Hamida Harrison, highlighted the significant challenges Ghana faces in achieving gender equality in political participation, especially ahead of the upcoming general election.
Madam Harrison reminded participants that while elections provide a platform for citizens to engage in the democratic process, true democracy remains elusive without equal participation.
According to her, Women’s involvement in decision-making is fundamental for inclusive governance, and yet, despite eight elections under the 1992 constitution, Ghana has not yet fostered a truly equitable political environment.
She added that “without equal representation, many citizens, particularly women, may feel their voices are limited in shaping the nation’s future.”
She emphasized that the connection between citizenship and participation is crucial. Citizenship, she said is not just a legal status but a right to actively shape one’s community and without equal opportunities, “we risk eroding the very concept of democracy. True equality in participation would affirm every citizen’s right to contribute to decision-making and to see their perspectives reflected in public policy.”
She underscored the need to strengthen policies that support women’s involvement and create an environment where everyone can engage meaningfully in the democratic process.
A former Presidential Candidate for the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) Brigitte Dzogbenuku who participated in workshop indicated that women are very capable of delivering when given the opportunity
She indicates that as a presidential candidate in the2020mgeneral elections she faced several challenges but was able to surmount them because she refused to be intimidated.
She called on the participants to offer women aspirants the needed support in the upcoming general elections.
On her part a Ms Bernice Sam, a Gender Activist added that it is true that women, as equal citizens, play a critical role in shaping the future of their country, both through personal relationships and collective political engagement.
She continued that,when women are united, beyond party affiliations, they can drive meaningful change, especially in areas like healthcare, economic empowerment, and gender equality.
She mentioned that the commitment of political parties to address women’s issues often depends on the depth of their manifestos. It’s essential to examine how thoroughly these manifestos address real challenges facing women from healthcare access to economic opportunity and whether they offer practical strategies for change.
She told the workshop that for women to realize their full potential as decision-makers, manifestos and policies need to address not only immediate issues but also promote a cultural shift in the ways men and society view women’s roles.
She pointed out that “by coming together, women can build momentum toward a future where every woman has the opportunity to contribute to decision-making.”
She maintained that speaking up on such issues does not align you with any single party; rather, it signifies a commitment to the principles of equality, inclusion, and progress adding that it is about building a nation where women are recognized as vital contributors at every level, working alongside men to create an inclusive society.
By:Mohammed Suleman/Publicagenda.news
