A recent monitoring report by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has revealed a further decline in women’s participation in public policy discourse on radio.
A statement issed by the foundation said it is extremely worrying considering the the acknowledged agenda setting power of the media and the influential role of radio in Ghana’s governance processes.
It also said Gahna cannot afford to have women on the periphery of development conversations at a time when gender inclusiveness in public policy making and development processes is so crucial.
The Media Foundation added that” traditional structures and the patriarchal nature of the Ghanaian society continue to impede the progress of women in many ways.However, women who have already braved the odds to occupy influential positions in governance should continuously serve as trailblazers paving the way for greater women participation in national affairs.”
MFWA said it is worried about the seeming absence of female Members of Parliament (MPs) from debates on national policy and development issues in the media.
The statement said while media spaces for women participation may be small, it is still crucial for our female MPs to assert themselves and amplify their voices within the spaces available.
While we acknowledge that women’s representation in Parliament remains abysmally low, it is important to highlight that the fewer numbers also provide greater opportunity for the female MPs to be assertive in public debates.In the first parliament of the Fourth Republic for example, women’s representation was still low but the late Hon. Madam Hawa Yakubu, demonstrated how influential a female legislator could be on national development issues. In the process, Hon. Yakubu inspired many women to develop self-confidence, to believe in themselves and be involved in the politics of this country.
The MFWA, therefore, calls on our current women in parliament to be more vocal in public policy and development debates in the media. This will be one of the surest ways they can help inspire and pull up other women to enhance gender inclusiveness in all aspects of Ghana’s development processes.
Source: MFWA