Woes of Aspiring Women MPs "I've to Sneak in the Dark to Paste Posters"

More than 32 aspiring female parliamentarians attending a two-day seminar aimed at equipping them with campaign skills last Friday openly narrated the problems they were encountering in their virgin political careers.

The seminar, which was organised by the Ghanaian Women Initiative Foundation (GAWIF), an NGO, also brought together women parliamentary aspirants from all the political parties for the ensuing December 7, elections. A People's National Convention (PNC) candidate, who sounded the warning bells, lamented that she sneaks in darkness to paste her posters in order to avoid the embarrassment of people seeing her.

Mrs. Emma Mitchell, a former Minister of Trade and Industry and Chairman of the Political Working Committee of GAWIF, remarked that, there are no legal barriers to women's participation in Ghanaian politics in all the four constitutions promulgated since independence.

She outlined the domestic laws, such as the Intestate Succession Law (PNDC Law III), as amended, that seek to protect the welfare of women and children. "Ghana has also ratified several international conventions, treaties, protocols, agreements etc., which seek to promote the welfare and status of women and improve their participation in political and public life, she noted, adding these include, The Convention of the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against women, the African Charter.

Mrs. Mitchell expressed disappointment with Ghanaian women for not keenly involving themselves in politics. She said that even though an enabling environment has been created for women, their actual involvement tells an abysmal story.

She however appreciated the fact that the situation is getting better and better as the years go by. Mrs. Mitchell called on all women organisations that have, hitherto, stayed away from politics to assume advocacy roles to advance the cause of women.

Also present was Mrs. Gifty Affenyi Dadzie, President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).