Wa, July 20, GNA - Mr Yahaya Mahama, Upper West

director of the Electoral Commission said on Wednesday that

the Commission would mount platforms for aspiring

assemblymen to give them the opportunity to put their vision

before electorate. He has therefore asked aspiring assemblymen and women

to get themselves ready for quizzing by their electorate. On September 12 this year, Ghanaians will go to the polls

to elect representatives to the metropolitan, municipal and

districts assemblies, and also to the unit committees. The forum was organized by the Centre for the

Development of People (CEDEP), a non-governmental body,

with logistical support from Abantu for Development, a

gender-based organisation. In all, about 40 aspiring assemblywomen and chiefs in the

Upper West region attended the forum, which was aimed at

promoting women's participation in local governance. It was

also organised to galvanise support for the women aspirants

from their husbands, relations and community leaders. Mr Mahama said there was enough evidence to prove that if

given the chance, women could prove their mettle and cited

the election of Mad Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as not only Liberia's

first woman President but Africa's first female president as

well. Mr George Hiikah Benson, deputy Upper West Regional

Minister, promised to bear the cost of printing of campaign

posters for women contestants who might not have the

resources to do so. Mrs Helen Koranteng, the lead resource person for the

forum, urged the aspirants to be self-assertive.