‘Society’s support for women will help transform the economy’

Bolgatanga, March 11, GNA – Mr James Twene, the Upper East Regional Director, Department of Gender, has underscored the urgent need for stakeholders to support women to take up leadership positions for the achievement of inclusive governance.

He said Ghana’s political structure was often not friendly to the growth and development of women who had lots of potentials to contribute to socioeconomic transformation.

“If you are a woman and has ambition and your husband does not support you, it will be difficult to realise it. The fact is that women need support from their own communities,” he said.

Mr Twene, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Bolgatanga on the International Women’s Day, explained that monetisation of politics was another hinderance to women standing for elections.

“Because of the low income of most women, it is very difficult to get people to vote for them,” he said.

The challenges notwithstanding, the women who had opportunities to hold high leadership positions performed well, he said, adding: “Women are better managers of the economy than men although they also have their shortcomings.”

Apart from policy interventions such as the Affirmative Action Bill, which must be urgently passed, Mr Twene, explained that aspects of societal norms, culture and traditions that hindered the progress of women should be abolished or modified.

Ms Georgina Aberese-Ako, the Regional Director, Department of Children, told the GNA that apart from supporting women, they themselves needed to be abreast of issues relating to governance and leadership to earn the support.

She urged women in leadership to live up to expectation and be role models to the young women to build a brighter future.

GNA