A total of 75 women win seats in assemblies in Eastern Region

Koforidua, Jan. 18, GNA - A total of 75 women, out of 198, who stood for the District Assembly Elections in the Eastern Region were elected into the various assemblies The figure compared to the 2006 results, showed a reduction of five women, as 80 women secured seats in that year's elections. Mr Eric Mensah-Bonsu, Deputy Eastern Regional Director of the Electora= l Commission (EC), disclosed this in an interview with the GNA in Koforidua, on Tuesday. He said out of the 21 Districts in the region, Akuapem North and Birim Central recorded the highest elected Assembly Women with seven women each. The Kwaebibirem and the Fanteakwa districts both recorded six elected assembly women each, whereas the New Juaben Municipality recorded five women. Four women each were elected in the Asuogyaman, Birim North, East Akim= , Atiwa and Kwahu South districts. Mr Mensah-Bonsu said Akuapem South, Suhum Kraboa Coaltar, Birim South, Akyemmansa and Kwahu North recorded three elected assembly women each, with Yilo Krobo, West Akim, Kwahu East and Kwahu West also recording two women each. He said the Upper Manya Krobo recorded the least with one elected assembly woman. Due to some litigations, the election could not take place in the Lowe= r Manya Krobo district. Mr Mensah-Bonsu said the 75 elected assembly women formed only 9.2 per cent of the total elected District Assembly Members. He commended the electorate and the candidates for ensuring a peaceful election in the region. Mr Mensah-Bonsu, however said turn- out was low, as compared to that o= f the 2006 District Assembly Elections. "This year we recorded a turn- Out of 38.6 per cent as compared to 4= 3 per cent voter turn-out in 2006" He attributed the situation to the fact that transfer of votes were no= t allowed this time round. In all 819 District Assembly Members were elected in the Eastern Regio= n in the 2010 District Assembly Election