The Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) is unhappy about the consistent low representation of women at the district assemblies and in Parliament.
With emphasis on women in the three regions of the north, FOSDA’s Executive Director, Afi Yakubu, described the situation as appalling and called for quick action.
She implored central government to actualize the nation’s affirmative action by supporting and encouraging more women to take center stage especially in local governance.
Afi Yakubu raised this concern in a Citi News interview on the sidelines of a two-day capacity building workshop in Tamale, which brought together assembly women in the three regions of the north.
She lamented “I am highly disappointed because we should have been experiencing an upward growth in the number of women in decision making because we tout ourselves as a very democratic nation and yet when it comes to democratically representing the different groups and genders women are few.”
“At least at the local government level, we should have seen an increase in the number of women participating because when you give visibility to women, it encourages the younger ones to come up and help in addressing some of the gender stereotypes we have grown with” Afi Yakubu emphasized.”
She recalled, “If you reflect back to 2004 for instance, we had two women from the northern region in Parliament and come 2016, the best we can have is one woman that is if she gets elected because she is the only candidate. If she doesn’t get elected, we will have zero representation in Parliament from the north.”
Afi Yakubu reaffirmed her outfit’s commitment to sensitize and support women in the three regions of the north to discover themselves in the local governance structure.
She said FOSDA could boast of 29 assembly women who through their support, are serving in 13 districts in the three regions of the north.
Some of the participants called for the judicious disbursement of the district assembly common fund.
They advocated that a chunk of the fund be allocated for sponsoring needy but brilliant pupils.
They also pleaded with government to put members of the assembly on a payroll, while commending FOSDA for its continual support and promised to serve as ambassadors of change in their respective electoral areas.
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana