A project to sponsor at least 30 women into the district assembly elections in 2027 has been launched in Accra.

The project seeks to identify, build capacities and mobilise support for women and those with disabilities in three districts in the country, towards the 2027 district-level elections.

Dubbed “Strengthening Women’s Capacities for Effective Participation and Representation in Ghana’s Local Governance System”, the project seeks to contribute to increasing women’s participation, including young women and women with disabilities, in decision-making processes within the country’s local governance system, particularly in the lead-up to the 2027 district assembly elections.

The initiative, which marks the formal commencement of a strategic two-year effort to close the persistent gap in women's representation in Ghana's district assemblies will strengthen advocacy for the implementation of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121), while building the capacities of prospective women aspirants and promote public awareness on women’s leadership and gender equality, for effective participation and representation in Ghana's local governance system.

Spearheaded by the Abantu for Development in partnership with Plan International Ghana's Renewed Women's Voices and Leadership (RWVL) project and the Global Affairs Canada, the project will be implemented in three districts, that is, West Akyem in the Eastern Region, Adansi Asokwa in the Ashanti Region and Ledzokuku-Krowor in the Greater Accra Region.

Women under-representation

The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, who launched the project, reaffirmed President Mahama's commitment towards women's empowerment, representation, and willingness to support interventions backed by the Affirmative Action law.

She stated that the ongoing constitutional review processes could further enhance opportunities for women at both parliamentary and local government levels.

The Executive Director, ABANTU for Development, Dr Rose Mensah-Kutin, in an address, said despite numerous efforts over the years aimed at increasing women’s participation in local governance, women’s representation and voices continue to be under-represented.

She was hopeful that with the passage of the Affirmative Action Law, the 2027 local governance elections would have more women's participation and representation.

The Project Manager, Renewed Women's Voice in Leadership, Plan International Ghana, Theodora Asare, said her organisation believed that gender equality was not only a fundamental human right but the foundation for sustainable development.

The International Assistance Officer, Global Affairs Canada, Yaa Nkansah Asamoah-Aning, also in a remark, said Canada’s support over the years had helped amplify women's voices, enabling gender transformative changes in laws, institutions and social norms.

The Project Coordinator of the Affirmative Action Coalition, Becky Enyonam Ahadzi, who represented the Convenor, Sheila Minkah-Premo, said that for decades, women had remained significantly underrepresented in Ghana's local governance system.

“Although women constitute more than half of Ghana's population, their representation in District Assemblies remained alarmingly low,” she said.

Christiana Appiah, an Assembly Member from Lower West Akyem District, was hopeful that the project would help more women win the upcoming 2027 local governance elections so that they could help make issues of women and the disadvantaged a priority in the country.