The level of women’s participation in the governance of the country particularly at the local level has been low, raising concerns among development watchers.
Over the years, activists have proposed and campaigned for measures to be implemented to whip up the interest of women in governance at all fronts.
Although some of these measures have been put in place, there seems to be no change.
However, going into the December 19 district level elections, many were hopeful of an improvement in the number of women elected to be part of the local governance.
But the situation remains the same, at least, in the Upper East Region.
Of the over 350 assembly members elected in the December district level elections to serve in the 15 municipal and district assemblies for the next 4 years in the region, only 4 of them are females, president of the Past and Present Assembly Women Association Bride Apania has disclosed.
The figure is an improvement by just 1 from the previous assembly’s number of 4 in the region.
Speaking in an interview on Breakfast News on Dreamz FM, Bride Apania blamed the situation on the monetisation of politics in the country.
She decried that the monetisation has become so pervasive that women, who do not have the financial muscles or who despise such corrupt acts, are unable to compete to be elected for such high offices.
“People were sharing cement and other things. And you know when you are sharing, you are not supposed to share only one bag – 10, 20, 25 and the rest, roofing sheets – where would I get those? So it’s hard for us. As for men, they can do everything. I cannot give cement and roofing sheets and woods and other things,” she said.
“In as much as I want to help our community member, it is not just an individual. And now that’s how the politics is. Things that you will use to support the whole community, you give it to only one person and we are seeing it to be wrong”.
She, however, believes appointing more competent women into the assemblies will bolster their chances in elections and inspire others to avail themselves to be elected.
