Government has been urged to exercise the political will to enhance women's participation in Ghana's decentralisation process.
Some gender rights advocates say the process has not satisfactorily stimulated women̢۪s participation in local decision-making.
According to them, the handful of women appointed as District and Municipal Chief Executives and as regional ministers is indicative of the fact that Ghanaian women are not being given the chance to fully participate or be at the top hierarchy of decision-making.
Mr. Frank Wilson Bodza Programme Officer of the Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF Ghana) noted that with regard to normal administrative work a lot of women are engaged but at the district assembly level where they should be in their numbers, they are not there.
"Only about 443 women representing about 9% were elected into the District Assemblies (DAs) in 2004 against over 5000 members. Looking at the number it is clear that women did not do well."
Mr. Bodza questioned how women can build their capacity up to the national level if they are denied the chance to aspire higher.
"If we should implement the quota system by ensuring that women are represented on the boards of educational institutions, ministries, department and agencies they will definitely have the chance."
In his opinion, literacy levels have nothing to do with female participation and that there are several qualified women but that the political will is not there.
He noted that although the policy to integrate gender issues in the planning and implementation process is in place it has not been implemented because the budget is not gender sensitive in the sense that key issues that affect women are not addressed specifically.
"It's not that issues are not being addressed but key gender issues are missing. Women should be allowed to make their contribution before the budget is planned and programme designed to implement it".
He cautioned that the country's development will retrogress if women are not involved as they form over half of the population, 52%, adding that it is not just about getting them there but there need to be a balance.
"It means that the few men who have themselves there will take decisions so we need to have more women in decision-making."
Mr. Bodza recounted statistics that are indicative that in terms of real figures, women's numbers in the legislature have not increased in any significant way although the number of female contestants has witnessed steady increase.
"In the 1996 parliamentary elections, out of 59 women who contested, 18 (30%) were elected,
constituting 9% of 200 MPs, in 2000, the number of female candidates increased to 101 but the
number elected was 19 (18.8%), constituting 9.5% of 200 MPs.
In 2004, the number of women
that contested was 104, including 14 sitting MPs, out of which 25 (24%) were elected
constituting 10.9% of 230 MPs. At the DA level, 547 female candidates contested the polls in
1998. Out of this number, 196 (36%) were elected and in the 2002 DA elections, 341 out of the
965 women who contested the elections were elected, (35%)."
Additionally, he said despite a 15% increase in the number of the parliamentary seats (constituencies) from 200 seats in 2000 to 230 in 2004, women won only 10.9% of parliamentary seats.
He bemoaned that of the ten regional ministers there is no female and that looking at the current trend there is no hope of a woman vice president.
According to the gender activist, there is ample opportunity to ensure representation of women through several national and international conventions such as CEDAW and Beijing Platform.
He stressed that if Ghana has signed onto all these protocols then it should have the political will to implement them.
The National Women Organizer of the CPP, Hajia Hamdatu Ibrahim Haruna regretted that women's participation in Ghana's decentralisation process is not encouraging, citing the last district elections.
She noted that in spite of the several UN Charters, Convention signed and ratified by Ghana that calls for 30 to 40 % female representation at all levels of power and governance that did not happen.
"Looking at statistics of the number of women even in parliament from independence not much has been done. That is why the CPP has started from the constituency level to make sure that women don't only take such positions as treasurers but some are chairing now."
Hajia argues that decentralisation must happen at the party level before applying it at the wider level. She disclosed that some women in leadership in collaboration with some non-government organisations are in the process of forming a non-partisan pressure group to seek to the course of women.
"We are saying that women should rally behind any woman in any constituency. We will be looking at their capabilities and not the party colours."
She believes that the opportunities for women to participate exist, however there have been problems with implementation and stressed that governance must involve the people and should be brought to the lowest level.
"Can you imagine what will happen even if we should have 60 women in parliament? Issues bothering them will be addressed because they will make noise and draw attention," Hajia said.
She noted that it is difficult to encourage women to come out and participate due to social, religious and cultural reasons adding that women should know that they also have a right and can equally perform.
She was not happy about the fact that some women in the opposition NPP have lost the primaries but takes consolation in the fact that some women have also sent some men packing in their constituencies.
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