The 2019 District Assembly and Unit Committee Elections according to ABANTU for Development recorded the second lowest number of women contestants in the history of District Assembly elections in Ghana citing 1998 District Assembly elections where 547 women contested and 196 emerged winners as compared to 17,601 male contestants in more than 6000 electoral areas countrywide.
This was contained in a press statement issued by ABANTU for Development.
To them, the 2019 Local Government Election shows that the goal of parity is a long way off and the nation needs to take decisive measures immediately.
Furthermore, the statement pointed out that “Elections are failing to deliver district assemblies that are devoid of gender marginalisation against the desire to institutionalise political legitimacy and fulfil promises of equitable, sustainable and effective local governance which requires gender sensitivity”.
On Tuesday 17th December, 2019, Ghanaians went to the polls to cast their ballots to elect members to serve in the District Assemblies nationwide for a period of four years.
This process was intended to consolidate constitutional democracy and afford the opportunity to all to be part of the decision making process.
Ghana’s District Assemblies were created as the highest political authorities in the districts under the decetralised system of governance to help leapfrog community development.
The objective is to make these assemblies effective centres of self-governance, intensify mass local participation in decision-making, planning and in sustainable development process.
As well as support democracy and afford all possible opportunities to all the people to participate in decision-making at every level in national life.
The system and its processes are therefore expected to facilitate effective popular participation of the marginalised, especially women, as central to ensure accountability, equal opportunities and access to national resources.
Unfortunately, since the introduction of the decetralised system in Ghana, women have been denied a chance to attain the 30 per cent UN recommended minimum threshold in representation in the assemblies in election since 1988.
This makes gender-based exclusion in these structures a major deficit in equality in participation. Women continue to have a checkered history in both representation and participation.
The highest number of women contestants and those elected came in 2006 Elections when 478 got elected as Assembly Members out of 1,772 who contested.
Local governance ABANTU for development believes has the potential to empower citizens to express and exercise their views effectively and influence government priorities and processes, and women can articulate their needs and concerns more concisely from their own experiences.
Thus, equal participation and sharing of power should engender engagement in policy-making affecting both women and men’s lives within the concept of equal citizenship rights.
By perennially allowing for low representation of marginalised groups, especially women, Ghana not only limits the diversity of the decision making bodies like District assemblies, but also pose a challenge to the provision of societal benefits central to true democracy.
The statement also indicated that, many countries including several in Africa are acting decisively by reforming electoral systems, undertaking constitutional reviews and passing legislation such as Affirmative Action Laws to ensure women’s equal participation and representation in politics and decision-making.
These efforts according to the press release are in direct response to the globally agreed conventions and instruments that mandate all states to act resolutely to accelerate the increase of women in political participation as a critical component of democratic governance and sustainable development.
Therefore called on Ghana government to pass the Affirmative Action Bill into Law to join other countries that are ensuring gender equality.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com/ Ishmael Barfi/ senghana@gmail.com
