Ms Samia Nkrumah, the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Jomoro, has challenged gender advocates not to limit their roles in empowering women but should strive for elective positions in Election 2012.
“Empowering women through capacity building workshops are good but more important we need all gender advocates to join in contesting for political positions especially parliamentary seats.
“Most gender advocates have leverage in the social-political environment, which must be translated into assuming leadership positions to influence national policies,” Ms Nkrumah told the Ghana News Agency in an interview at the sidelines of a workshop to develop a women’s manual at Aburi in the Eastern Region at the weekend.
The workshop on the theme: “A Woman’s Manual Towards Increased Women’s Parliamentary Representation,” was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), a think-tank for representatives of the four political parties with representation in parliament.
The parties are the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Convention Peoples Party (CPP) and the Peoples National Convention (PNC).
Sharing her experience at the workshop, Ms Nkrumah who is seeking for a second term as MP for Jomoro said the path to gender equality must start from the local level, through the political grass root structures to the national level into governance.
She noted that the only way for achieving gender parity was through legislation, adding that the “terrain is becoming more and more difficult for women”.
Ms Nkrumah who is also contesting for the CPP National Chairmanship slot encouraged women aspirants never to be discouraged by negative tags, name callings and personality attacks.
“You must develop the stamina to go through the rough campaign terrain… You need to be bold, firm and courageous and develop strong mental aptitude that the impossible is possible.
“Your private life would be hit, but it is important to focus on your strong female qualities to move on… Never engage in personality attacks,” she said.
Ms Nkrumah also advised aspiring women parliamentary candidates to form a strong team involving opinion leaders, traditional and religious elders to network.
Mrs Beatrice Boateng, NPP Member for New Juaben South appealed to the media to support women aspirants.
“We are your sisters, wives, mothers and colleagues. We need encouragement rather than the constant personal attacks,” she said.
She also urged gender advocacy groups to offer financial support to women aspirants, adding: “We need the cash to move around.”
Mrs Boateng encouraged women aspirants especially those who failed at their first attempt not to be discouraged but mobilise and fight on and engage in social services to help their communities.
Hajia Hawawu Boya Gariba, Deputy Minister of Women and Children Affairs noted that the seed of democracy lied in the principle that the legitimacy of power to make decisions about peoples lives, the society and the country at large should derive from a choice by those who would be affected.
“For many centuries the basis of this legitimacy was limited and many were excluded from making a choice: bonded persons, those without property or formal education and overwhelmingly, women were not given the franchise and so did not have a choice.
“The men folks were the voices of women… This unacceptable situation has since the past few decades changed. However the quantum of representation in national legislature is not significant and continues to dwindle especially in our case.
“It is my conviction that policy decisions and laws are to be made for the benefit of all members of the society and in particular its larger segment- women.
“Then the extent to which the decision-making body is able to take into account the experience of the broad spectrum of the society will be the gauge of the degree to which its decisions will reflect its aspirations.
“The representation of women and the inclusion of their perspective and experience into decision-making process will inevitable lead to solutions that are more viable and durable and satisfy a broader spectrum of the society.
“That is the basis of our drive that women should be part of the process,” Hajia Gariba said.
She noted that despite the drive and efforts of women they continue to face difficulty in entering institutions of governance and high level decision making.
“Political Parties failed to choose women as candidates and the electorates reflect and act on the gender stereotypes in the society by voting for men,” she stated.
The Deputy Minister therefore called on women to organise inside and outside their political parties and encourage political parties to set down clear rules for selection of parliamentary candidates.
The Political Parties Manual on Women in Politics in Ghana seeks to advocate that women’s participation in governance can be facilitated by strengthening their representation and candidature in the election process.
The manual is being developed by the IEA, in collaboration with NDC, NPP, CPP and the PNC.
Leadership of the various political parties are expected to adopt and sign at a later date the Political Parties Manual on Women in Politics in Ghana.