By Philip Tengzu
Wa, (UW/R), Feb. 05, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has been urged to take steps to ensure the inclusion of women in the appointment of Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) in the Upper West Region.
The Upper West Regional Female Traditional Leaders (Queen Mothers) Association in an appeal to the President, they urged him to consider appointing at least 30 per cent of women, as “government appointees” into the eleven Municipal and District Assemblies in the region.
“This is a necessary step toward fostering gender inclusivity in our local governance structures,” Pognaa Hajia Pognaa Afisata Salia, the Queen Mother of Boli, said.
The Queen Mothers made the appeal in Wa on Wednesday at a press conference organised by the Association in reaction to a statement containing shortlisted MDCE candidates from the region which excluded women.
Mr Charles Lwanga Puozuing, the Upper West Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), announced the names of 33 all-male shortlisted MDCEs aspirants in the region pending the final selection of the President.
Meanwhile, eight women from four Districts and Municipalities in the region had applied for the MDCEs positions out of 165 people who applied.
“We acknowledge with a sigh that the appointment of MMDCEs is the prerogative of the President. We, however, find it deeply concerning that not a single woman was deemed fit for consideration.
“It cannot be said that women in the region lack the competence to hold such strategic positions, especially when women have been previously appointed as MMDCEs in the region, and many others have excelled in leadership roles at the national level.
This raises serious questions about the inclusivity of the selection process and the commitment to ensuring fair representation of women at the local level,” the Association explained.
The Queen Mothers commended President Mahama for appointing about 27 per cent of women into his government in pursuant to the Affirmative Action and Gender Equality Act, 2024 (Act 1121) which aims to increase Female representation in public office to at least 30
per cent between 2024 and 2026 and expressed hope that he would surpass the 30 per cent target of the Act.
Pognaa Salia indicated that to consolidate the nation’s commitment to gender equity, deliberate efforts must be made to ensure women’s participation in governance at all levels, particularly at the local level where leadership skills were nurtured.
It said the nation could not tap into the leadership potential of women if they were not given the opportunity to develop their skills at the local level and prepare themselves for national-level leadership responsibilities.
The Association also encouraged women to be confident and present themselves for leadership roles at all levels of society, taking inspiration from the country’s first Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.
GNA