Koforidua, Oct. 23, GNA - Mr Johnson Asiedu-Nketia, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has indicated that as a Social Democratic Party, the NDC Government is placing emphasis on women's participation in Local Governance. He said to that end the Government would like to see more women take active part in the forth-coming Unit Committee and District Assembly Elections.

Mr Asiedu-Nketia was speaking at a day's workshop in Koforidua for members of the Women's Wing of the NDC from Eastern, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions. The workshop, which was organized jointly by the Netherlands Institute for Multi-Party Democracy (NIMD) and the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), was on the theme; "Women Participation in Local Governance".

Mr Asiedu-Nketia said he did not understand why women should play leading roles in families but would be lacking as far as national affairs were concerned.

He said statistics showed that women had been most genuine supporters of political parties adding that in terms of credit re-payment, it had been established that they did better than men. Mr Asiedu-Nketia challenged women's organizations to lobby queens in their areas to canvass for women to go into politics. He advised women to take active interest in the problems in their areas such as sanitation and loitering of children and noted that the electorate voted for people who showed interest in their problems and found solutions to them.

Mr Asiedu-Nketia advised women to relate well with people in their communities and to let their attitude demonstrate that they were interested in their well-being.

"Identify yourself with the local women and you can get their support if you stand for any election" Ms Evelyn Korang, Eastern Regional Women's Organizer of the NDC, in a welcoming address, noted that women's participation in local governance in the country was nothing to write home about. She said the workshop had therefore come at the right time to equip women with the necessary skills to be able to take their "rightful places in the society".

Mr S.P. Adamu, a Policy Analyst, said it was about time women played leading roles in politics and encouraged them to contest the District Assembly elections. Ms Anita Jemima De Sossou, National Women's Organizer of the NDC, called for a quota system for women by political parties. 23 Oct. 10