Sunyani, March 11, GNA – Mr. Justice Samuel Adjei, Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, has encouraged women to contest the forthcoming District/Municipal Assembly and Unit Committee elections in their numbers.
He was speaking at the regional celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day celebration in Sunyani, under the theme: ‘Women Participation in Decision-making – Make it Happen.’
It was aimed at celebrating the achievements and progress of women in the world.
Mr. Adjei entreated women to pick up nomination forms when the race was re-opened, stressing ‘what men can do, women can also do and can even do it better’.
He stated that the 2010 population and housing census indicated that women make up about 52 percent of the total population of the country, and yet they are poorly represented in positions of responsibility in the public service, in politics and in the corporate world, both at the local and national levels.
Mr. Adjei said it is common to see a lot of women at the lower and middle level positions in the public service, adding that even the numbers decline progressively in climbing up the management ladder.
He observed that in politics women are hardly seen vying for elections to political offices both at the local and at the national levels.
The deputy regional minister emphasized that there is no way the country can achieve the desired accelerated development as a nation, when the views of over half of the nation’s population are not taken into account during decision- making processes at all levels.
He stated that since women know their situation best, they should participate equally with men, to have their perspective effectively incorporated at all levels of decision-making from the private to the public spheres of lives.
Ms Christiana Amarchey, Brong Ahafo Regional Manager of Action Aid, Ghana, called on all to help in the fight against traditional beliefs and practices, as well as all forms of discrimination, which tend to put women at the background.
She noted that the country is committed in upholding women’s human rights, and ensuring women’s participation in politics and public life.
Ms Amarchy urged the public to vote for women to ensure that at least 40 percent are elected at the assembly level.
GNA
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