CENSODEV empowers women’s group in Sissala, Jema communities on their political rights

The Centre for Social Mobilization and Sustainable Development (CENSODEV), a non-governmental organisation based in Navrongo in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality in the Upper East Region, in collaboration with partners has conducted Town Hall Meetings in the Sissala East Municipality in the Upper West Region and Jema in the Kintampo South District in the Bono East Region.

The purpose of the town hall meetings was to assess the women’s participation in the limited voters’ registration and also whip up interest of marginalized groups to effectively participate in the electoral process, especially the December general election.

The campaign is being led by the International Republican Institute (IRI) and with funding from the United State Agency for International Development (USAID) Political Accountability Activity (POLA) project.

The Women Voter Mobilisation campaign targets women, political actors in the Upper East, Upper West, Northern, Savanah, North East, Bono and part of Western Regions.

At Tumu capital of the Sissala East Municipality, the Executive Director of CENSODEV, Braimah Sanjage gave an overview of the Voter Mobilization Project and said the project offered opportunity for all stakeholders to learn and share their experiences during the limited voter registration and to encourage eligible women and marginalised groups to participate in the general election in December.

He said governance was inclusive when it effectively served and engaged all persons, taking into account gender, minorities, and other facets of personal identities, adding that inclusive governance ensured that institutions, policies, processes, and service were accessible, accountable and responsive to all members of society.

Mr Sanjage observed that “the principles of equity and social justice were not adhered to, though women constituted about 52 percent of Ghana’s population,” yet they were underrepresented.

The Executive Director of CENSODEV expressed the need for legislations and gender responsive policies to remedy gender discrimination in society.

The Municipal Director of the Electoral Commission,Charles Oteng Bonsra, observed that the limited voters registration was very peaceful in the Sissala East Municipality, adding that as of May, 28 2024, the commission registered 780 new voters, out of  which 375 were Males (48%), Females were 405 (51%) with 47 challenged cases.

Also speaking at the meeting, the Municipal Director of National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), Hussein Elyasu, said underscored the need for eligible voters to exercise their fundamental human rights by voting in elections.

He commended CENSODEV and partners for creating the interactive platform, and asked for more of such opportunity to inform the women about the next step in the electoral calendar.

A climate change expert, Mr. Samuel Akwaiteh, told the gathering that the current rise in temperatures, and other abnormal occurrences were as a result of climate change, adding that climate change was human-induced, and that it created problems women who were the number one users of the environment.

The Divisional Chief of the Kapum Traditional Area, Pe Kuabalogu Ali, who also doubles as the District Manager for Health Insurance Scheme in the Sissala West, encouraged women to participate in the development of their communities, and also in political activities.

At Jema in the Kintampo South District, Resource Link Foundation led by Mr. Dawud Suleiman, supported CENSODEV to undertake this exercise, by mobilising stakeholders including Nananom, the market women, mechanics, farmers, Dressmakers and headdresses for the event.

The Municipal Programmes Officer of NCCE, Mr. Norbert K. Seidu, educated the gathering on the significance of voting, and encouraged women to get involve in decision-making, adding that women’s rights to participation as fundamental human rights was  essential for gender equality and sustainable development.

By Times Reporter

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