Efforts to enhance women's participation in governance

Accra , June 30, GNA - The Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC), will train women in effective lobbying methods, speech delivery, advocacy and other leadership skills to promote their participation in governance.

Mrs. Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Minister for MOWAC, who said this when she appeared before Parliament on Wednesday in Accra, explained that the training formed part of capacity building efforts, to support women candidates for the District Assembly Elections scheduled for September this year.

She said that the Department of Women at MOWAC, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, National Commission on Civic Education, Accra Metropolitan Authority and National Association of Local Authorities in Governance were expected to assist in building the capacity of women seeking to participate in governance.

The rest of the organizations were Information Service Department and the Representatives from the Society Organisations and non-governmental Organisations.

Mrs. Azumah-Mensah said the 2006 District Assembly Elections showed that when women were organized they become confident in their delivery in the polls.

She said that the strategies adopted included awareness creation and sensitizing of the public on the need to vote for women in the elections.

Mrs. Azumah-Mensah said that there was the need to build on the success story to enable more women to take part in decision-making as administrators, assembly members, counsellors among others.

She said that at the regional level, MOWAC would train 50 women while at the each district across the country the Ministry would train 20 women.

Mrs. Azumah-Mensah called on the Regional Directors of the Ministry to work with the Gender Desk Officers and the District Assemblies to identify potential women for the exercise.

She said women must also be encouraged to actively participate as polling agents as well as "Foot Soldiers."

Mrs. Azumah-Mensah said that there would be a re-launch of the "Women in Local Governance Fund" to draw attention to the need for financial support for the implementation of the training programme.

GNA