Increase number of women to assembly — Mrs Akumanyi

Mrs Augustina Akumanyi, a Deputy Chairman of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has challenged stakeholders in the appointment of government appointees to district assemblies to increase the number of women to the assembly.
She said there was the need for deliberate measures to ensure that more women, at least 30 per cent, formed the membership of district assemblies in the country.
Mrs Akumanyi said this in an interview after a breakfast meeting for District Chief Executives and chiefs for the promotion of women’s participation in district assemblies elections in the Greater Accra Region, in Accra.
It was on the theme “Increasing appointment of women to District Assemblies; The time is now”. It was organised by ActionAid Ghana in collaboration with the NCCE.
Mrs Akumanyi said although statistics indicated that the number of women in the district assemblies had been appreciating since the inception of the decentralisation process, the rate was unacceptable.
She said the country abounded in talented, qualified and experienced female, who were ready to put their services at the disposal of the assemblies and should be encouraged.
According to Mrs Akumanyi, in most parts in the country, there were women, including teachers, nurses, retired female professionals who were desirous of assisting the assemblies but could not withstand the rigorous nature of elections.
She also called on the appointing authorities to always look beyond political considerations and select capable women to assist in the work of assemblies and also prepare them for future political considerations.
Madam Jeleelah Quaye, the only elected female assembly member in the Ga West District Assembly, who shared her experience with the gathering, said through the assistance of the District Chief Executive, she had been able to help many women in the 18 communities in her electoral area.
These, assistance, she explained included construction of boreholes, capacity building for other women, assisting women with employable skills and paid glowing tribute to ActionAid for helping her to realise her potential.
On some of her unpleasant experiences, she said there were times some of her colleagues and people in her electoral area would rain insults on her, call her all sort of names and even doubt her capability, all because she is a woman.
Madam Quaye, who is also the Assemblymember for Sarpeiman Electoral Area, also called on the appointing authorities to use the 30 per cent seat available to the government to increase the number of women in the assembly.
In a speech read on her behalf, the Minister of Women and Children Affairs, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, said in spite of the pivotal role Ghanaian women played in economic, political and social life of the country, the ratio of female to male membership in Parliament, district assemblies and other public and private sectors organisations did not reflect their population composition of 52 per cent.
She said one of the pillars that would ensure the successful implementation of government’s development agenda depended on good governance.
“Two of the areas that underpin good governance are women’s empowerment, gender equality and equity as well as the promotion and protection of children’s rights and development,” she added.