Political parties in the country have been asked to ensure that at least 30 per cent of all elected positions at the districts, regional and national levels are occupied by women.

The electorate have also been advised to vote for more women to occupy political positions instead of always giving preference to men.

Hajia Abiba Chambas, President of Northern Regional Assembly Women’s Caucus on Good Governance (NORWACGG), made the call at the launch of the groups’ manifesto in Tamale on Monday.

The 34-page manifesto touched on women and education, economic empowerment, decision –making, political participation and representation, healthcare, environment, rights and civil and chieftaincy conflicts.

The manifesto, titled: “Pagaba kukoya’, literally meaning women’s voice, was developed by women from about 200 sub-groups in the region with support from the Northern Sector Action on Awareness Centre (NORSAAC).

Hajia Chambas said women had the ability to help transform the district assemblies.

She asked the government to fulfill its constitutional mandate of providing Free and Universal Basic Education and to ensure free Senior High School education to help remove obstacles that impede women’s educational advancement.

On health, Hajia Chambas entreated government to incorporate into the National Health Insurance Scheme a policy that would ensure the offering of anti-retroviral drugs to People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWA) in the country.

She explained that this would help prevent HIV patients from developing full-blown AIDS and mother-to-child transmission during child birth.

Mr Mohammed Awal, Director of NORSAAC, said the region had no single woman occupying a political and administrative position apart from the Member of Parliament (MP) for Savelugu, Hajia Salifu Baforo.

He said: “It is on record that the North trails the other nine regions in terms of women’s representation in the country. Occasionally, people provide answers to unacceptable situations using cultural practices, religious affiliation and non-existence of educated and capable women in the region”.