Kumasi, June 30, GNA- Mrs Joana Opare, National Programme Manager of the United Nations Gender Programme, has said there is an increasing concern to promoted gender sensitivity and 0enhance women's involvement in politics.

Mrs Opare was addressing the opening session of a two-day seminar on women's manifesto for Ghana organised by the Women, Media and Change (WOMEC), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in collaboration with the United Nations Gender programme for 30 media practitioners in Kumasi on Monday.

The seminar had the theme: "Women's Manifesto For Ghana -A Tool For Promoting Gender Balance In Media Coverage Of The 2004 Elections". She said the need for all to get involved in promoting gender equality in all policies, plans and activities, has been underscored in several International Conventions that Ghana has ratified.

Mrs Opare noted that despite the ratification of these conventions, Ghana has not moved forward very much to ensure that gender issues were adequately handled.

She explained that during the last decade women's parliamentary representation has increased due to the impact of women organisations both inside and outside political parties.

The UN Gender programme Manager stated that women especially at the grassroots level, must also be encouraged to participate in leadership training that focuses on political change. Mrs Opare appealed to media practitioners to strive and highlight on political, social and economic problems that affect women to enable them to come to limelight.

Mrs Charity Binka, Co-ordinator of WOMEC, earlier in a welcoming address said the organisation aimed at promoting the participation of women in politics and other issues which concern women. She said to ensure effective participation of women in the 2004 elections, political parties should educate women on their manifesto for women to fully participate in politics.

Dr Rose Mensah Kutin, West African Country Director of the Abantu Of Development, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), said the organisation has over the years tried to promote the equality of women.

She appealed to journalists to highlight on poverty among women and the need to address the problem to improve their standard of living.

Alhaji Hamidu Chodi, Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), who chaired the function, appealed to his colleagues to consider their work as very challenging and urged them to evolve strategies to improve their reportage.