Ghana

The newly elected Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon (AWW) Constituency, Ms Lydia Seyram Alhassan, has advised Ghanaian women not to shun politics despite the challenges of insults, name calling and denigration that they have to go through when they enter into mainstream politics.“Women (by the role they play in society) have a lot to contribute to nation building and it is time for all women to support each other in this enterprise,” she stated.

Civil society organisations in good governance promotion in Africa have urged leaders across the continent to prioritise efforts which would increase the participation of women in governance, saying they will provide the difference critical for Africa’s transformation.

Efforts at encouraging strong women representation in active politics received a major boost as nine women filed their forms to contest for various positions in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Central Region.

Seven out of the number were candidates contesting the election for the first time with two incumbent women seeking re-election.

The Progressive Organisation for Women Advancement (POWA) has organised its second forum to discuss women’s participation in the Ghanaian political space.
The forum, which was held on Monday, July 23, 2018, at the British Council in Accra, was themed: “How has the media impacted on the participation of Ghanaian women in politics?”

Ghana is set to have a new head for its elections body, the Electoral Commission (EC). The nomination of Mrs. Jean Mensa as the new EC boss was announced by the presidency on Monday.

She will become the second successive woman to hold the post and will take over from Charlotte Osei – the first female occupant of the seat under the 1992 Republican consitution.

Sources from the Electoral Commission indicate that the nationwide figure of women who won the parliamentary election on Wednesday, December 7, to represent their respective constituencies in the 7th Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana, which commences on January 7, 2017, has increased from 29 to 37.