NGO calls for inclusion of women on traditional councils

Garu (U/E), July 6, GNA - The Community Development and Advocacy Centre (CODAC) is implementing a project aimed at getting women to be represented in the Council of Elders of Chiefs in all the Traditional Councils in the Upper East Region.

CODAC is a non-governmental organization working to promote good governance and community development in the Upper East Region. The Programme Manager of CODAC, Mr Issahaku Bukari, told the GNA that the project titled 93Amplifying the Voice of the Vulnerable" was awarded to CODAC under the Strengthening Transparency Accountability and Responsiveness in Ghana Programme (STAR-Ghana).

The project's major objective is to increase the accountability and responsiveness of government, traditional authorities and private enterprises to Ghanaian citizens.

He said in the Upper East Region, it could be said that even though wome= n and men were active in community affairs, men dominated community governanc= e institutions such as chieftaincy and the unit committees. "Furthermore the patriarchal traditional political system in this part= of the country has no place for women and as such does not involve women in it= s decision making structures", he said.

He said only the Women leader popularly called 93Mangazia," was somet= imes consulted on community issues that concerned women. Mr Bukari said the situation did not promote transparent and accountabl= e local governance as there was lack of participation and representation of women in decision making.

The one year project would empower and inspire women to speak out, and defend their right to participate effectively in decision making as enshrined in the Constitution of Ghana.

"It will also enable women play a leading role in their own developmen= t in society, and contribute significantly to development in their communities, District and the nation as a whole," Mr Bukari said. The project would also engage the regional house of chiefs and other relevant stakeholders to institutionalize women in the council of elders of Chiefs.

He said community sensitization programme had been started and lobbying groups and network teams formed in the beneficiary communities which includ= e Garu/Tempane, Bawku Municipal Assembly and Talensi Nabdam traditional councils, adding that 16 women, four from each community in the target grou= p are expected to be represented on councils of elders.