By Rebecca Ekpe
In a bid to mobilize more women to the voting booth and ensure that more women are elected in Ghana’s December 7 General Election, ABANTU for Development, a gender-centered NGO in Ghana, has launched an intervention project dubbed ‘Strengthening Capacities on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion for Ghana’s Election 2024 and Beyond”.
With about a month to go to the Polls on December 7, 2024, a key stakeholder in women’s rights and gender equality in Ghana, ABANTU For Development is leaving no stone unturned in mobilizing the Women’s votes.
Background:
It is on record that Ghana has made great strides in terms of political stability, since the country’s return to multi-party democracy in 1992. Ghana has organized eight (8) successive elections, since then, which have been considered credible, peaceful, free and fair. However, the participation of vulnerable groups, especially, women, young women and persons with disabilities (PWDs) has remained extremely low. This low representation is evidenced in the fact that women constitute only 14.5% out of the two hundred and seventy-five (275) Members of Parliament.
Strengthening Capacities on Gender Equality and Socially Inclusive Ghana’s Election 2024 and Beyond:
Strengthening Capacities on Gender Equality and Socially Inclusive Ghana’s Election 2024 and Beyond is an initiative by ABANTU For Development Ghana, sponsored by STAR-Ghana Foundation with funding from theForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office has launched the project, “Strengthening Capacities on Gender Equality and Socially Inclusive Ghana’s Elections 2024 and Beyond”.
Dr. Rose Mensah Kutin, ABANTU’s Executive Director, in a message on her behalf said the Project will look at five critical areas. These are; building the capacities of women on voting rights, public education on voting processes, Intergenerational conversations with the youth, Media engagements and Holding the Government Accountable on Affirmative Actions and creating equal opportunities for women.
Funding for Women in Elections:
Providing resources for women’s participation in politics has been topical, which is why ABANTU is grateful to STAR-Ghana and its funders for supporting the project. Madam Dorcas Coker Appiah, Executive Director, Gender Studies and Human Rights Documentation Center in launching the project drew attention to the importance of long-term financial provision is addressing disparities of representation in decision-making spaces.
“Long-term funding is a challenge facing organizations, which does not allow for sustained activities for long-term impact,” she posited.
“It is my hope and expectation that donors including STAR Ghana Foundation, will see women’s participation in politics as a long-term program of work, but not as a seasonal activity undertaken three or four months, every four years.
Madam Hamida Harrison, Manager, Resource Mobilization and Sustainability at ABANTU, could not agree more. She is optimistic that women’s role in elections is critical, and even more will come on December 7, 2024. She called for more support in women’s commitment to ensuring a “peaceful, fair, equitable and inclusive election 2024.”
Picture:
Madam Dorcas Coker Appiah, Executive Director, Gender Studies and Human Right, joined by Madam Hamida Harrison, Manager, Resource Mobilization and Sustainability at ABANTU, Raymond Danso (STAR Ghana) and partners at project Launch
