MORE WOMEN MUST PARTICIPATE IN ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS — CHIGABATIA (PAGE 14, MAY 31, 2010)

The Upper East Regional Chairperson of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mrs Agnes Asangalisah Chigabatia, has reiterated the need for more women to take active part in the forthcoming district level elections.
While conceding that politics was not a game for the faint-hearted, she suggested that it was about time women developed interest, particularly, at the grass roots level where their impact would be well felt, adding that if more women showed interest and participated in the decision-making process in their communities, there would be peace.
“By our nature, women have that motherly love and care and this will be translated into tackling issues in the community”, she said.
Mrs Chigabatia expressed concern about the failure of women in the country to actively vie for political office and stressed that if women really wanted to take part in the decision-making process of the country, they should take such bold challenges by competing with men in all aspects of governance.
The former lawmaker, who was a recipient of an international award, made these comments during an interview in Bolgatanga.
The “Great African Patriotic Achiever for 2009 Award” was presented to her at a ceremony held at the Holiday Inn, London, in recognition of her humanitarian activities and contribution to the building of her country and Africa as a whole.
Mrs Chigabatia expressed her appreciation to the people of the Builsa North and the NPP family for giving her the opportunity to become a Member of Parliament and also for making her the first female Regional Chairperson of the NPP, all of which exposed her to be nominated for the award.
While commending the media for exposing her works at the grass roots and at the parliamentary levels between the year 2004 to 2008 on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party, Mrs Chigabatia, who runs the St. Agnes Vocational Institute which trains the youth in her area in hairdressing, dress- making and ICT free of charge called on the governmental and non-governmental organisations to support women's activities in the area of politics to enable them contest the district level elections from where they could build their political careers.
Commenting on the current presidential race within her party, she caution
ed the five aspirants for the flagbearership to desist from mudslinging, stressing that “we are one family”.
She maintained with determination, hard work and unity, the NPP would recapture power.
“If you look critically at the way the NDC is managing the country, should we put our house in order, all shall be well,” she said.
Mrs Chigabatia said she did not believe in the existence of camps within the party, adding that at the end of it all, God will choose for them a leader who they would all rally behind to help the NPP recapture power in 2012.
She advised the youth, especially, those within her party to desist from allowing themselves to be used as tools to tarnish the image of the party.
She advised them to take their businesses, academic and vocational training seriously, while they gradually prepare to step into the shoes of the current leaders.