By Yussif Ibrahim
Patriensa (Ash), Sept. 10, GNA – The Erudite Women’s Empowerment Foundation (EWEF) has launched a campaign to strengthen the capacities of young women to take up leadership and decision-making roles in their communities ahead of the 2027 District Assembly Elections.
The initiative, dubbed the Media for Equality Campaign, is being implemented under the UN Women WYDE Women’s Leadership Programme and seeks to challenge harmful social norms, amplify women’s voices and mobilise public support for increased participation of women in leadership.
Mrs. Constance Ohenewaa Ankoma, Executive Director of EWEF, said the Foundation was committed to equipping 150 young women in three municipalities in the Asante Akim area with the skills and confidence required to pursue leadership opportunities.
She said the initiative was a continuation of gains made under the SHE Leads project, implemented between 2021 and 2025 to promote leadership development among girls and young women.
Mrs. Ankoma said although the project had recorded significant gains, there was the need to sustain and amplify those achievements by creating more opportunities for young women to participate meaningfully in decision-making spaces.
She identified harmful social norms, limited self-confidence and inadequate financial resources as some of the major barriers preventing women from seeking leadership positions, particularly in politics.
According to her, some communities continued to hold misconceptions that women’s primary roles were restricted to nurturing children and taking care of the home, making it difficult for women who aspired to leadership to gain the necessary support.
She said the Foundation therefore sought to sensitise communities to recognise the capabilities of women and support them to participate in leadership.
Mrs. Ankoma said the programme would also focus on strengthening the capacities of young women so that they could take advantage of leadership opportunities when they arose.
“Women must believe in themselves and build their confidence, but they also need the support of their families and communities,” she said.
She urged young women aspiring to leadership to demonstrate competence and commitment, saying their ability to deliver effectively would help create opportunities for other women to follow.
Mrs. Ankoma said young women should also build alliances within their families and communities and leverage existing opportunities to gain experience in decision-making spaces.
She said engagements with municipal assemblies had shown that women could effectively participate in local governance when given the opportunity and support.
The Executive Director said the Foundation was particularly interested in increasing the number of women contesting the 2027 District Assembly and Unit Committee elections.
She noted that although two of the three municipalities where the programme was being implemented currently had women as Municipal Chief Executives, the situation was different at the assembly-member level, where men continued to dominate.
She said the Foundation would therefore work with communities and other stakeholders to encourage more women to present themselves for election and to create an enabling environment for them to succeed.
The launch of the Media for Equality Campaign was followed by a Digital Leadership and Public Speaking Training for 50 young women leaders.
The campaign carries the message: “2027 District Assembly Elections: More Women Must Contest. More Communities Must Support Them.”
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Yussif Ibrahim