Media must help promote women in leadership positions

Kumasi, June 3, GNA – The media have been urged to give greater publicity and support to women in diverse leadership positions in the country, to help push the national development agenda forward.

The capabilities of women who form half of the population when made public would encourage more women to seek political and other key positions to enable them to also contribute their quota to national development.

Madam Anima Wilson, Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, made these remarks during a two day media sensitisation workshop on: “Promoting Greater Visibility for Women in Leadership,” in Kumasi.

It was organised by Women, Media and Change (WOMEC), a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), which seeks to promote effective use of the media for the advancement of women, and was supported by Abantu for Development, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Women's Manifesto Coalition.

The workshop, which drew journalists and media practitioners from the Northern and Southern Sectors of the country, was aimed among other issues at creating the forum for reflecting on gender sensitive issues and media coverage with regard to women's participation in governance and decision-making processes.

Madam Wilson pointed out that in Ghana, even though women constitute half of the population, their representation in Parliament is low.

This, she attributed to problems such as discrimination against women in education; poverty, lack of courage and some traditions and cultures that go against them.

She, therefore, called for the need to enforce laws to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women.

Mrs. Dede Bedu-Addo, a Gender Consultant, also took participants through Increasing Women's Participation in Decision-Making through affirmative action.

She encouraged women not to limit themselves to only feminine positions but also strive to occupy positions that are normally occupied by their male counterparts.

She stressed the need for more women to take high positions of power in the country, so they would speak for women in the grassroots as well.

Ms Ruby Amable, a media practitioner, called on the media to bring to light the importance of involving women in decision making.

“The media wield influence in every society; the change can be realised when we partner and find innovative ways of promoting the cause of women in leadership”, she stressed.

GNA