Group and individual proponents advocating for increased participation of women in governance, have been urged to brace up for another round of advocacy, as the local government elections, approaches later this year.

Ms. Esther Tawiah, Executive Director of Gender Centre for Empowering Development (GenCED) made the call on Tuesday in Ho during a validation workshop on the Local Governance Network’s Position Paper on the participation of civil society organisations (CSO) in local governance.

She said women are a marginalised group and need to be propped up to get their rightful place in politics at all levels.

Ms. Tawiah said women are not in competition with men, but as development partners, they only want the opportunity to affect governance for the sake of the nation.

She told Ghana News Agency that the pro-women in governance groups should work to raise the low confidence level of women.

GenCED is an independent, not-for-profit, research and advocacy organisation, with interest in the participation of women in the decision-making and governance process.

Ms. Tawiah said the input of women at the local government level is crucial because they are the wheel of local economies.

Mr. Thomas Malm, a teacher, suggested the need for government to cede its authority to appoint 30 per cent members of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to CSOs, which would appoint representatives of marginalised groups to make the Assemblies more representative.

He said the current system has been compromised, with political interest submerging the interests of the Assemblies.