Hohoe (V/R), Aug. 9, GNA - Mr Anthony Kumagah, a civil society and gender activists on Tuesday asserted that, swift military takeovers in the country with its associated brutalities and atrocities meted out to civilians militated against the full participation of women in politics and decision-making.

He said that notion and the aura of fear continued to haunt the womenfolk, resulting in their disinterestedness in the political and democratisation processes in the country.

Mr Kumagah made the assertion at the opening of a three-day leadership workshop for 29 aspiring women candidates in the upcoming District Assembly elections at Hohoe, which was organized by the Hohoe District Mill Owners Association (HODMOA) and sponsored by IBIS, a Danish non-governmental organization.

He noted that socio-cultural issues, which suggested man to assume a domineering status in society, further, cowed the womenfolk from advancing into the echelon of politics.

Mr Kumagah however, explained that no legislation on the statutory books of the country debarred women's participation in politics or other endeavours and described the negative phenomenon as superficial, which had only taken deep-root in the society.

He debunked the notion that politics was a preserve for men and urged the participants to rise up above intimidation and other tendencies geared at lowering their self-esteem and aspire to greater heights. Mr Felix Kudjawu, General-Secretary of HODMOA said his outfit was facilitating the compilation of manifestoes, posters of the candidates as well as adding value to their approaches to campaign. He urged participants to avoid frivolous promises that were never attainable, smearing campaign with monetary influence but concentrate on their capabilities and integrity in a humble manner to win floating voters.

Mr Kudjawu said HODMOA was established in 1989, as a non-partisan and non-profit-making organization into the promotion of societal values, good governance, human rights and child related concerns. Participants would be enriched in leadership skills, communication skills, and advocacy and lobbying techniques.