By Philip Tengzu
Nadowli, (UW/R), Feb. 24, GNA – Limited participation of women in leadership in Ghana means inadequate representation of a greater proportion of the Ghanaian population in decision-making in the country.
This is because, according to the 2021 population and housing census report, a greater proportion of the Ghanaian populace, about 51 per cent, are up made of women.
Madam Janet Kpan, the Upper West Regional Girls Education Officer, Ghana Education Service, and the Regional Focal Person on Affirmative Action Law Coalition, said this, adding that it would also mean the interests and issues of about 51 per cent of Ghanaians would not be adequately represented.
She was addressing some students at the McCoy College of Education in Nadowli during a durbar on the Affirmative Action Act, 2024 (Act 1121) and Gender-based Violence (GBV).
The durbar was organised by the college’s women’s wing of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) under the Girls and Women Economic Empowerment, Livelihood and Participation in Leadership (GWEEL) project.
The African Centre for Human Rights and Sustainable Development (AfCHuRSD), in partnership with the Equity, Opportunity and Development Fund (EODF) In Action, is implementing the project in 20 communities in four Districts of the region with funding from Equal Opportunity Fund (EOF) Ghana, Netherlands.
A similar event was also held at Duong, a community in the Nadowli-Kaleo District, led by Pognaa Rosemary Bangzie, the Queen Mother of the Duong community.
These were follow-up activities from action plans developed during a community influencers’ workshop organised by the project implementing partners for influencers from the beneficiary districts – Nadowli-Kaleo, Jirapa, Wa West and Daffiama-Bussie-Issa Districts for them to lead the project implementation in their communities.
Madam Kpan explained that the passage of the Act was a step to achieving gender equity in Ghana but that its success depended on the right implementation strategy.
She advocated deliberate government and political party interest in the Act, sensitisation and capacity building for stakeholders and strong collaboration with Civil Society Organisations for its effective implementation.
Pognaa Rosemary Bangzie, Queen Mother of the Duong community, urged females to build their capacity and acquire the needed qualifications and competencies through higher education to compete favourably in seeking leadership positions.
“The Affirmative Action Act is not saying that once you are a woman the position should be given to you even when you are not qualified.
You must acquire the right qualifications and competencies, and this can be achieved through higher education,” she explained.
Mr Omar Yakubu Yaarun, the Nadowli-Kaleo District Director, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), who talked about GBV, encouraged the students to report any form of abuse they experienced or witnessed to the right agencies for the necessary action to be taken.
He said GBV was perpetuated in society due to the failure of the survivors and witnesses to report such cases for distinct reasons.
Mr Philip Konyuuri, the SRC President of the school, encouraged the female students to take advantage of interventions such as the GWEEL project to build their leadership portfolio and take the initiative to lead.
Mr David Gaanye, the Upper West Regional Coordinator of AfCHuRSD, said the organisation prioritised the well-being of women and girls including ending GBV and that AfCHuRSD had implemented some projects in that regard in the region.
GNA