LOGNet holds dialogue on women

The Local Governance Network (LOGNet) in collaboration with GIZ, German development agency, has held a multi-stakeholder policy dialogue on women participation in decision making.

It was aimed at strategising and building the capacity of women for effective participation in decision making in the local governance system.

It was on the theme: Strategising for effective participation of women in decision making:”The role of civil society.”

Mrs Adjoa Kwarteng Kluvitse, Chairperson of LOGNet, said women play a very crucial role in Ghana’s development and should be made an integral part of decision making.

She said the dialogue was the third in a series to equip and promote the effectiveness of women.

Mrs Kluvitse noted that despite the increment of electoral areas in the country’s local government system, the representation of women in the district assemblies still remain low.

She said the dialogue would come out with strategies that would promote and increase women participation in decision making at all levels of the society.

Mrs Hamida Harrison, Sustainability and Mobilisation Manager of ABANTU Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), said in 1998, about 588 women contested for the district assembly level elections and the figure rose to 1,770 in 2010 out of which only 412 women were elected, representing 7.4 per cent as against the 5,681 men elected.

Professor Takyiwaa Manu, Chairperson for the ceremony said there is no supportive legislation to encourage and ensure that women are supported to be part of the decision making process.

She said women could not keep moving with the abysmal low numbers and that Government should ensure the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill.

Mr Gerhard Lauth, Team Leader of GIZ said there is s the need for civil society organisations (CSOs) working with women to demand accountability in the local governance system to promote effective leadership.

LOGNet is a network of CSOs and NGOs working to promote women.

Source: GNA