Accra, July 7, GNA - Government on Wednesday lashed at the negative perception against women and other socio-economic barriers that continue to work against gender mainstreaming in governance. "These negative trends have eroded confidence and created fear on the part of most women to take up political or decision making position," Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs stated in Accra.

Mrs Azumah-Mensah was speaking at a day's capacity workshop for aspiring assembly and unit committee women on the theme: "Reinforcing Women's Participation in Ghana's Local Governance System." The workshop was organised by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in collaboration with two non-governmental organisations: ActionAid Ghana and Abantu for Development.

It was aimed at sensitising, educating and impacting the skills of leadership, governance, confidence-building and public-speaking to women, and galvanise the position of women in leadership and governance. The Minister noted that women's reluctance to put themselves forward and the unwillingness of some men to allow their wives to participate in decision making processes continue to hinder affirmative actions. She expressed concern about lack of consistency and sustainability in the implementation of affirmative action policies. Mrs Azumah-Mensah said in view of these challenges, gender activists should effectively sensitise and encourage women to realise that "women's leadership and participation is imperative for democracy and good governance". The Minister noted that socio-cultural issues, which allow men to assume domineering status in society, further, cow women from advancing into the echelon of politics. She explained that no legislation in the statutory books of the country debar women's participation in politics or other endeavours and described the negative phenomenon as superficial, which had only taken deep-root in the society.

Mrs Azumah-Mensah who is also the Acting Minister of Tourism debunked the notion that politics is a preserve for men and urged the participants to rise above intimidation and other tendencies geared at lowering their self-esteem and aspire to greater heights. Mrs Joyce B. Afutu, Greater Accra Regional Director of NCCE noted that the old structure of men-dominated society had been nullified by the established laws of democracy and democratic governance system. She said it had provided women the strong leverage to dismantle the remaining few pickets towards women's freedom and emancipation.", adding "this is the time to provoke thought and promote positive action towards women's leadership in governance and effective democratic participation in all facets of life".

Mrs Augustina Akosua Akumanyin, Deputy Chairperson of NCCE urged the participants to avoid frivolous promises that were never attainable, smearing campaign with monetary influence and concentrate on their capabilities and integrity in a humble manner to win voters. In an interview with Ghana News Agency, Mrs Akumanyin admonished Ghanaians to eschew undemocratic practices in the up-coming district assembly elections.

She however, expressed concern about vote buying, misuse of State resources, incumbency on the part of some candidates and partisan campaigns by some aspirants.

Mrs Akumanyin emphasised that corruption undermine human rights, democracy and good governance, economic progress and private sector development and stressed the need to combat the canker to ensure rapid development of the country.

She therefore, called on government to strengthen existing laws to include the imposition of stiffer punishment for perpetrators of corruption and a strong code of conduct for civil and public servants, as well as political appointees. 7 July 10