100 Women receive training on electoral processes

A Gender and disability based organisation, the Henry Djaba Foundation, has built the capacities of 100 women on electoral processes to increase their participation in the upcoming 2020 election.

Set up by the former Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ms Otiko Afisah Djaba, the foundation aimed at transforming the socioeconomic status of the vulnerable in society, as well as empowering women.

At the training workshop in Accra last Tuesday, the participants were taken through topics such as the electoral process of the 2020 election, opportunities for women in the election, women’s role in conflict management and resolution, as well as women’s role in promoting peace and security in the December polls.

The workshop was on the theme “Capacity building and advocacy for women in the 2020 general election” and funded by the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives.

It brought together traders, traditional leaders, religious leaders and women from various communities within the Accra metropolitan area.

The workshop will afford the participants the platform to share ideas, understand their role and ensure that there was gender equality in the election process.

Women’s participation in elections

The Executive Director of the foundation, Ms Djaba, said the increased number of women voters over men in the just ended voters registration exercise indicated that women were crucial to this year’s election.

She said women constituted 51.7 per cent of the total number of voters registered, reiterating that women’s involvement would guarantee a peaceful and successful election.

“Women love peace, we are peacekeepers so women can be advocates in ensuring a successful election, as well as Persons with Disabilities (PWDs),” she said.

Other sessions

She said that similar workshops, dubbed: “women and PWDs” would be rolled out in six areas  in the Accra Metropolitan Area and other areas in the Ga East and West municipalities to promote inclusiveness in the election.

She noted that they would adopt multimedia tools and distribute flyers to educate women and PWDs on the election process.

“We need to understand that Ghana was built on the sweat and blood of others for the sake of our freedom, independence and peace, so we have the responsibility to maintain that peace for ourselves and generations to come.

We will continue to engage people in discussions, preach and pray about it to ensure that beyond the 2020 general election, Ghana will not burn but will still be here in spite of coronavirus disease (COVID-19),” she said.

Peace message

The Head of Gender, Youth and Disability at the Electoral Commission, Mrs Abigail Amponsah Nutakor, urged all the participants to be ambassadors who would whip up some positive energies in the 2020 elections.

“It is our wish to continually enjoy the peace and stability in this country. Let’s continue to spread peaceful messages towards the general election,” she said.