Bolgatanga, Dec. 20, GNA - The National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) in the Upper East Region has embarked on a programme to provide women with the relevant civic skills and knowledge to enable them to participate effectively in administration at all levels. The programme involves workshops and seminars where women discuss various challenges that hinder their involvement in politics and find possible solutions to them.

Mr Haruna H Sulemana, Regional Director of NCCE said this when he opened one of such workshops in Bolgatanga on the theme: "Participation of Women in Local Governance, the way Forward", organised for some women on Tuesday.

He urged the women to make efforts at removing obstacles or technicalities that hinder women's participation in decision making saying: "we need to give them special support and courage to enable them to get themselves involved in the governance of this Country". Mr Sulemana reminded Municipal and District Assemblies to adhere strictly to the quota of membership given to women while ensuring that two thirds of that quota was given to women who stood for elections and lost.

He appealed to chiefs, community and religious leaders and NGOs to give support to female candidates to enable them to effectively contest elections under the Unit Committee, Area Council and Assembly level.