TAKE INSPIRATION FROM WOMEN ACHIEVERS (Daily Graphic Tuesday, November 2008, 2008 PAGE 11)

A Development worker in the Upper East Region, Mr Philip Ayamba, has advised female parliamentary candidates to take inspiration from the achievements of some women who have made immense contributions to national development and work hard to win the December elections.
He also called on the electorate to vote for female parliamentary candidates to increase women’s representation in Parliament.
Mr Ayamba recalled the contributions of some women from the northern part of the country and mentioned names of the late Madam Hawa Yakubu, a former MP for Bawku Central; Mrs Agnes Chigabatia, Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, and Madam Kasise, founder of the Sirigu Women’s Organisation of Pottery and Arts, and urged women aspiring for leadership positions to take a cue from them.
He made the statement at a day’s forum at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region aimed at canvassing votes for women contesting in the parliamentary elections.
The forum was facilitated by the Centre for Sustainable Development Initiatives (CENSUDI), a gender-based non-governmental organisation working in the region.
He regretted that although women constituted more than half of the nation’s population, that did not reflect in the number of women in leadership positions and called for support from the government, civil society organisations and the public to encourage more women to assume leadership positions.
Mr Emmanuel Atongi, a former Upper East Regional Director of the Centre for National Culture, appealed to the aspirants to conduct their campaigns in peace and avoid insults and inflammatory statements.
He also called on the electorate to come out massively to exercise their franchise on the voting day, since it was their duty and responsibility to do so and urged them not to do anything to mar the elections, stressing that violence could lead to the destruction of life and property.
Madam Margaret Mary Issaka, an Executive Officer of CENSUDI, said the training programme would help equip both the female candidates seeking political office and their campaign team members, as well as the participants with skills and information that would aid their campaign efforts.
Six women have filed their nomination in the Upper East Region to contest the 2008 Parliamentary elections.
They are Madam Evelyn Lamisi Anabila (CPP), Mercy Alima Musah (NPP), both for the Bolgatanga Central seat, and Madam Grace Akua Yinmadug (DFP) for the Talensi Constituency.
The rest are Madam Gifty Ajavuuk (DFP), Builsa South; Mrs Agnes Asangalisah Chigabatia, (NPP) Builsa North, and Ms Rodalim Imoro Ayarna (CPP), for the Bawku Central Constituency.