By Rachel Kakraba and Mabel Awagah
The Network for Women’s Rights (NETRIGHT), Ghana, has urged political parties to establish effective frameworks and strategies for implementing their manifestoes when elected into power. It also recommends that manifestoes include clear timelines for implementation to enhance accountability to citizens. This call was made during a stakeholders’ forum on the Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) Analysis of Political Party Manifestoes in Ghana.
The study was commissioned by NETRIGHT, Ghana, with sponsorship from the Star Ghana Foundation and support from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office under the UK High Commission.
It focused on the manifestoes of the two major political parties, the NDC and NPP, with particular emphasis on the NDC. Discussions centered on political parties’ commitments to addressing the needs of women, the youth, and marginalized groups, such as persons living with disabilities.
The Programmes Manager of NETRIGHT Ghana, Patricia Blankson Akakpo, said the study is crucial, as past policies have consistently failed to address the systemic challenges of gender inclusion. Madam Akakpo reiterated that NETRIGHT will continue to track and monitor the government to ensure the collective achievement of inclusive governance.
“Most of the interventions we notice don’t address systemic issues. So, it was important for us to conduct this analysis and share the findings. This way, when we are tracking, monitoring, and calling for inclusive governance, we have data to support our claims.”
She added that as a civil society organization (CSO), they will continue to partner with other stakeholders to advance gender responsiveness and inclusive governance.
Presenting the findings, consultant Rachel Gyabaah pointed out that without clear definitions and actionable steps, it becomes challenging for stakeholders to understand how certain policies will be executed. This, she said, could hinder the ability of women and other marginalized groups to fully benefit from proposed initiatives.
She explained that the report focused on the NDC manifesto because the party is currently in power, making it important to assess the relevance of its policies, interventions, and implementation strategies.
“Since the NDC is the ruling government, there’s much focus on it to determine how relevant these policies are through the GESI lens and to assess their effectiveness, as well as the relevance of interventions and implementation strategies.”
She further stated, “It’s really just an in-depth analysis of these policies to examine how they align with key GESI dimensions, indicators, and policies. This allows us to assess how specific issues affecting women, persons with disabilities, and the youth are being addressed in sectors like education and health.”
The consultant emphasized that manifestoes have become an integral part of governance, making it essential for them to align with national plans.
“Whether we like it or not, manifestoes have come to stay, and we know that these are the plans that align with our national agenda. Over the next four years, the government will be held accountable for what it has outlined in its manifesto. Therefore, it is crucial that we actively engage and support governance efforts.”
Madam Gyabaah also stressed the importance of clarity regarding resource allocation and sources of funding for proposed initiatives.
Portfolio Manager for the Right to Services at STAR-Ghana Foundation, Raymond Danso, emphasized that while Ghana has made significant strides in democracy, more efforts are needed to enhance women’s representation in decision-making roles. He expressed hope that the study will play a crucial role in bridging gender inequality gaps.
“In Ghana, we have progressed in our democratic journey and take pride in our achievements. However, when it comes to representation, leadership, and decision-making, women remain significantly underrepresented.”
He added, “That is why continuous engagement is very relevant—to ensure that the government is constantly reminded of its own manifesto promises at every turn.”
