MORE WOMEN IN NORTHERN AND UE REGIONS EXPRESS INTEREST TO CONTEST DISTRICT ASSEMBLY ELECTION

 More women in the Northern and Upper East Regions have expressed their interest to contest for the forthcoming District Assembly election scheduled to take place this year.
The women numbering more than 60 announced their intention at a forum organized by IBIS Ghana in Bolgatanga dubbed” an experience sharing forum for women Aspirants in 2014 District Assembly Election”
The forum which also brought together stakeholders including the National Commission for Civic Education, the Electoral Commission , Department of Women , the Security agencies, NGOs and IBIS partners was to identify the challenges that confronted women who contested in the last 2010 District Assembly Election and to chart a way forward towards increasing the number of them in the impending election.
Culture and Traditions, Intimidation, partisan nature of the Assemblies, financial constraints, lack of confidence, low level of education ,name callings and among others were identified as some of the challenges that affected the performance of women during the last election.
Mrs Bright Apania, Assembly woman for Dua Electoral area in the Bongo District narrating her experience during the 2010 District Assembly Election indicated that she was asked to go back to her parents house to contest and that she did not belong to the husband community.
She said she ignored them and still went ahead with her campaigns which she won by beating the male opponent and impressed upon women who are aspiring to contest for the impending election not to let intimidation discourage them from contesting .
Mrs Anastacia A Musah , Assembly Woman for Atasale-Azaasi electoral area on her part stated that he was tagged as a Prostitute by the male contestants but she never gave up and this made her won the election massively.
She, therefore, told her counterparts never to be bothered by “name calling,” but to concentrate on carrying out their campaigns devoid of insults, stressing, “this will let you win more sympathy to garner more votes to win”
Schooling the Aspirants on how to win the District Assembly election Mrs Agnes Atayilla , a former Presiding Member of the Bolgatanga Municipal told the Women to support one another and avoid petty quarrels .
“You must also get a trust worthy campaign team and involve the youth, be confident and don’t promise what you cannot do, and don’t start jubilating when the Electoral Commission had not declared the results,” she admonished.
Mr Samuel Akolgao, Civic Education Officer of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) indicated that plans were far advanced by his out to undertake public education to break the negative cultural and traditional barrier that debars women from participating in the decision making process.
Mrs Georgina Aberese-Ako , Regional Director of the Department of Children indicated that the Gender Ministry would build the capacity of Assembly Women Aspirants, in the area of effective public speaking and what needs to go into a manifesto including resource Mobilization.
A National Policy Advisor of IBIS Ghana , Ms Eunice Agbeayadzi, explained that among the core values and principles of her outfit was to empower more women to enable them participate actively in the decision making process.
She pointed out that over the years IBIS Ghana and its partners had been championing more activities aimed at ensuring that women empowerment was achieved, and stressed the need for collective effort to realize the dream. GNA