New Edubiase (Ash), Aug 8, GNA - A public servant has appealed to men to provide moral, spiritual and financial support for women who have taken the challenge to contest the district assembly elections. Mrs Kate Adu Boadi, Planning Officer at the Ministry of Women and Children's Affairs, said women were prepared to contribute to the growth of democracy and good governance there was the need to support them.

She was speaking at a durbar organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at New Edubiase to sensitise the public on the need to involve women in governance.

Mrs Boadi suggested the reservation of half of the 30 per cent government appointees to the district assemblies to women to enable them to demonstrate their capabilities at the local level.

This would also give an indication that the nation's leaders were ready to give women a fair representation in local governance. She said women had the desire to take active part in decision making at the local levels but were unable to compete favourably with men due to misconceptions the public had about women leaders in the country.

Mr Kusi Aboraa, Ashanti Regional Director of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), deplored the low number of women in the Adansi South and Ejura-Sekyedumase District assemblies and accused the District Chief Executives for not nominating more women into the assemblies.

Mr Eric Opoku, the UNDP Representative, advised aspiring women assembly members to do away with insults during campaigns and focus their attention on what they could do for their people. Mr Francis Dorpenyoh, the District Chief Executive for Adansi South, pledged the assembly's support to aspiring assemblywomen.