Traditional rulers were on Wednesday urged to support more women to contest for the forthcoming District level elections to help contribute to the development of their communities.

Addressing a forum on the local level elections at the Chiana Traditional Council of the Kassena- Nankana West District, the District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Umar Sulemana, stressed that women constituted majority of Ghanaians and should be elected into the District Assemblies and Unit committees to enable them bring their rich experience to bear on development.

He condemned the notion among some men that women were not to engage in politics and noted that it constituted a gross violation on their human rights and pleaded with the Chiefs to nib such notions in the bud.

Mr Sulemana reminded the Chiefs of the contributions they made in drafting the 1992 constitution through the late Chiana Pio, Pe Roland Ayagitam II, who was also the Speaker of the Consultative Assembly and indicated that they were major stakeholders when it came to the growth of the country’s democracy.

He noted that most of the countries that had developed, gave more for women participation in governance and as such there was the need for the Chiefs to help use their influence for more women to be involved in the governance process in the country.

He also encouraged Persons with disabilities to show interest in contesting in the election to enable them contribute to development and issues affecting them.

The Regional Director of the Commission, Mr. Pontius Baba Apaabey, thanked the Paramount and his sub-chiefs and elders for the impressive turn out and urged that such good response be extended on the Election Day.

The Regional Director lauded the European Union for supporting his outfit to embark upon voter education on the District Assembly and the Unit Committee elections.

He stated that any democracy that faced neglect was bound to suffer and so as citizens they had to exercise their constitutional rights through patronizing the democratic process.

Mr Apaabey reiterated the fact that District Assembly and Unit Committee elections were non-partisan and cautioned against campaign of insults and encouraged the people to critically evaluate their candidates when they mount the Electoral Commission platforms to present their manifestos.

In his remarks, the Paramount Chief of the Chiana Traditional area, Pe Thomas Detungdini Adiali III expressed his gratitude to the Commission for its education and gave the assurance that the community would collaborate with them to ensure successful and peaceful election.

The NCCE had earlier on met with women groups and undertaken spot announcement on the elections at various places in the market.