Network holds forum for women

Ms Esther Apau,  the Chairperson for the Disability Common Fund and Assembly Woman for Kukurantumi in the Kadjebi District recounted her experience.  she said she had been like other women who were involved in normal women's chores of farming, petty trading and  household family duties. Then along the line, she was introduced by Madam Comfort Fobi, the Officer in charge of Kadjebi District Girls' Education, to the activities of the Women's Right Advocacy Network (WRAN) under the leadership of Naana Efua Bour. This NGO has been running advocacy programmes for women towards their involvement in leadership roles and decision-making at Kadjebi. "Through this woman and WRAN, I am what I am today," she said.

According to Ms Apau, who is now a teacher and assembly woman, “I have been able to bring a number of development projects to my area, which include school blocks, potable water and a bridge over a river to enhance movement of foodstuff and people to the urban areas.

"There were moments of joy and difficulties that were not easy", she recounted, but due to her efforts, even when she was involved in a lorry accident and had wanted to step down, it was the men who mounted the platform to campaign on her behalf, making her win.

Ms Apau asked the people to take education seriously since it enabled society to equip themselves with skills and consciousness, assess opportunities on the job market and functionally manage the environment.

"As such, she encouraged her fellow women to come out of their shells and offer themselves for leadership roles, adding that what a man can do, a woman can also do it".

She further appealed to the government to include the disabled people, whose individual initiatives are hindered due to cultural beliefs in the mainstream of national programmes to accelerate the growth and development of the nation.

On the way forward, Naana Efua Bour, the Volta Regional Co-ordinator of WRAN, dwelt on the challenges facing women such as early marriages, defilement, domestic violence and out- moded cultural practices which are retrogressive in society.

Naana Bour explained that  the elimination of such cultural practices, very rife in rural areas, and the inclusion of more persons with disabilities in national programmes were crucial to accelerate societal progress.

 She urged them to offer themselves for elections at the Unit Committee and District Assembly levels, and to lobby political leaders for the appointments of more women at the constituency and district assembly levels.

She further called for free education for women up to the senior high school level or the institution of quota systems for women to attend tertiary institutions.

In his welcome address, Mr John Dominic Andoh, Greater Accra/Volta Regional Coordinator of the AAG, said since 2003, when they came to the region, they had assisted to uplift the status of women through various means, and mentioned sensitisation on the Domestic Violence Act, community education on the rights of women and training them in livelihood skills like bread and soap making.

He said they also helped to  build confidence in public speaking, decision-making and lobbying to put them in good stead to  enable them to compete and participate actively in decision-making.

"We also encouraged them to compete in the last district assembly elections and other activities that promote the well-being of women and children aimed at reducing teenage pregnancy," he said.

Mr Andoh regretted that the number of women in the Kadjebi District Assembly had dropped from 11 in 2006 to eight in 2010. This, he said, was due to women not  having confidence in  themselves but rather in men, and advised women to be confident and “put yourself up for public positions since you are equally capable".

The durbar attracted dignitaries, including queenmothers, assembly members, and personnel from the Ghana Police and Education Service.

Story by Emmanuel Modey