We have no money to buy votes - aspiring Assemblywomen

Aspiring Assembly women and women group leaders at a forum in the Nadowli District of the Upper West Region have said if the forthcoming District and Unit Committee elections are to be free and fair then they should be devoid of use of money and buying booze to influence and persuade the electorate for votes.

The women said the phenomenon that has become part of the body politicking in Ghana did not favour women aspirants in the forthcoming elections because they do not have the money to share nor buy booze for the people for their votes. The lady aspirants voiced out their sentiments at a forum organised as part of efforts to sharpen their skills and build their capacities for an effective electioneering campaign.

It was under the auspices of the National Council on Women and Development (NCWD) and the Nadowli District Assembly with sponsorship from the Konrad Adenaur Foundation (KAF).

The aspiring Assembly-women said if the practise was not stopped forthwith, their hopes and aspirations of becoming part of the decision making process at the grassroots level would be dazed. "We are at a disadvantage because, while men have prepared themselves adequately towards the norm, we are helpless since we do not have the capacity to go by it" the women complained.

In response, the Programme Officer of Centre for the Development of People and a Resource Person to the forum, Mr Stan Dery, told the women not to be discouraged since money and booze were not the end of everything. He urged the women to rather intensify their campaigns to brighten their chances of winning their seats.

Mr Dery urged them to discuss issues and not personalities when they mount platforms to deliver their messages, saying that practice was not good politicking. He urged the women to be guided by the fact that resources were scarce and limited and avoid making vain promises could dent their reputation and images should they win power. Mr Dery also advised the women to avoid he use of provocative language and insults because the two have the potential of bringing about trouble.