EC laments low female participation in 2024 polls

A Deputy Chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. Eric Bossman Asare, has lamented over what he terms the gender imbalance in political representation in the 2024 general elections.

The Deputy EC Chair is worried over the low number of female candidates taking part in the December 07 elections, especially after measures were put in place to ensure female participation surges.

Addressing a forum at Winneba Friday, October 25, 2024, he expressed concern over just a 120 women taking part in the parliamentary elections being contested by over 800 candidates across the country.

With “Enhancing the Electoral Process and Fostering Peaceful Co-existence,” as its theme, the discussion emphasised the need for inclusive participation in the elections.

The exercise was organised to discuss issues related to the upcoming elections and also to promote collaborative approach in ensuring a fair and peaceful electoral process.

In his address, he expressed worry over the Commission’s effort to increase women participation by scrapping some percentage of the filling fees for women and persons with disabilities, and yet having low representation for them.

He described the low participation of women in the polls as “unfortunate”, expressing the need to encourage gender balance in politics to foster a balanced decision-making and ensuring that the needs and perspectives of all demographics are addressed in national policies.

Amongst the effects of low female participation in Parliament, according to Dr. Asare, is not only gender inequality but also puts a limitation on the broader socio-political progress that comes with diversity in governance.

“In this year’s nomination, the filing fee for female candidates and persons with disabilities was reduced by 25 percent. So for the presidential election, male candidates paid GH¢100,000 and the female candidates and persons with disabilities also paid GH¢75,000.

“And for the Parliamentary elections, male candidates paid GH¢10,000 and the female candidates and persons with disabilities paid GH¢7,500 and the idea was to encourage more women to take part in the process but unfortunately the numbers that came were not very encouraging,” he stated.

Source:onuaonline.com