Cape Coast, Dec 18, GNA – Young girls have been reminded to build self- competencies beyond opportunities available in both social and economic environments to be able to take up leadership roles.
Madam Araba Annan, the Executive Director of Women Aspire Network (WAN), said exercising self-leadership was what could compensate for the prevailing falling standards in education, training, development and inadequate employment avenues to match the growing demographics of the youth.
She made the remarks at a training organized by WAN under the five year She Leads project being rolled out in five regions across the country.
The project seeks to bring together child rights, feminist and women’s rights, girls and young women (GYW) led groups to sustain the influence of young women on decision making and the transformation of gender norms in formal and informal institutions.
Madam Annan charged young girls to be focused on achieving their aspirations in life and be able to speak up and stand out for themselves.
That, she noted, would make it imperative for the Government to realize their potentials and consider their inclusion in various decision and policy-making bodies in the country.
She said the training was aimed at equipping the young girls with the requisite knowledge to be able to engage with Civil Society Organizations (CSO’s) in their various communities.
Mr Johnson De-Graft Taylor, Planning Officer of the Komenda-Edina Eguafo- Abrem (KEEA) Municipality, said the citizenry had the right to hold Assemblies accountable on developmental projects in their communities.
He said some laws could support their petition against the Assemblies when they were not satisfied with the activities.
On women participating in local governance, Mr Taylor explained that strengthening women participation in all spheres of life has become a major issue in economic and social development.
He said the under-representation of women at any level of governance and decision-making resulted in a democratic deficit.
He said their participation and representation in local decision-making processes was critical for prioritizing women’s practical needs and issues in local government agendas and for localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) five, which is about gender equality.
Mr Taylor urged the young girls to fully participate in local governance to bridge the gap of gender inequality and equity.
Mr Micheal Bentil- Arthur, the former Assembly Member for Bakaano Electoral Area in KEEA, trained the participants on how they could engage with CSO’s, hold Authorities accountable when needed and laws that govern the assembly structure.
He asked them to be bold and assertive in the face of challenges to achieve their ambitions.
Mr Arthur charged them to take up leadership roles to impact positively in the community and the country at large.
GNA