The Alliance for Women In Media Africa (AWMA) has held a Stakeholders forum dubbed “Enhancing Women’s Participation in Ghana’s 2023 district Level Elections: the The Role of the Media” in Accra. The event held last Thursday also so the launch of the “Enhancing Inclusive Participation in Local Governance in Ghana through Capacity-Building for Journalists and Female Political Aspirants” projects.
Chairperson of the Star Ghana Foundation and former Director of the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS), Dr. Esther Ofei-Aboagye, who was the keynote speaker at the event raised concerns that women should be interested in and encouraged to enter into politics for positions in local governance.
“Local Government in the basic arena for social services that impact on women’s reproductive and domestic activities including primary health, pre-school and basic education, garbage collection and environmental sanitation and regulation of their productive, economic and artisanal activities,” she explained.
She also lamented the un-encouraging number of women participating in the forthcoming district level elections hence they should be encouraged and motivated.
Dr. Ofei-Aboagye also hinted on the critical challenges cited by female candidates which included lack of logistics for campaigns, materials, transport, support staff, inducements for voters, among others.
Also social hindrance to women’s participation in politics (traditional gender roles, perceptions about women in public stereotypes, power relations and patriarchy.
“Women in politics have also raised concerns about public abuse and violence.”
She also mentioned that the media could help in promoting higher levels of women’s participation in local government election-related issues through agenda-setting, education, balancing – ensuring level playing field and leaving no one behind.
She urged the EC, MLGDRD and NCCE to collaborate more effectively with key non-aligned media to increase education and provide unbiased platforms, but if they are not proactive, media networks must reach out to them.
Also speaking on the role of the media, the Convenor of Women’s Manifesto Coalition, and CEO of Abantu for Development, Madam Hamida Harrison, also mentioned the need for the media to be more assertive, change entrenched customs and behaviors and also bring their own trends to enable all win together.
General Secretary of the National Association of Local Government Authorities (NALAG) – Mr Kokro Amankwa, also emphasized the need for women in politics to be supported and that participation goes beyond franchise.
Acting Executive Secretary of the Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), Mr. Jeorge Wilson Kingson, on behalf of the Association threw full support towards the good course.
By Gertrude Amuzu