Helen Akanbong: FUMBISI CENTRAL ELECTORAL AREA /BUISLA DISTRICT
Having looked that the development challenges facing her people in her electoral area, Madam Helen Akanbong said she simply cannot identify herself with then but take a proactive step to contribute her quota toward the development of her area, hence her decision to contest in the up-coming local level elections.Speaking to the Daily Graphic about her intention to contest the assembly elections Madam Akanbong said she will be relying on her exposure in leadership as a community development worker to enhance the fortunes of her people.She said when given the nod, her focus will be to work with the youth to see how best they can contribute to the development of their community. “with the right kind of education, skill acquisition and proper vocational training, the youth will find their feet and work towards the development of the community, and that will be my focus”, she said.She also hopes to mobilize the women in her electoral area especially those in the non-formal sector to assess micro finance schemes to enable them become self sufficientMadam Akanbong said she is optimistic about her chances adding that to prepare her for the task ahead she has read widely and participated in various capacities building programme to sharpen her potential.Her major concern however has to do with attempts by people to align her to a political party. Madam Akanbong believes that women contesting the election should be judge on their own merit and what they can do and not which political party they belong to since the elections are by law non-partisan.She is appealing to her electorates to vote for her so that collectively they will seek the development of the electoral area.
Madam Mary Kugazo: Yemeriga Electoral Area, Talensi-Nabdam District 
For Madam Mary Kugazo, this will be her first attempt at seeking election as an assembly woman in the Talensi-Nabdam district. Prior to arriving at this decision, Madam Kugazo has been working with women’s groups and widow in Shea butter extraction as well as nursing of tree seedlings for afforestation programme.A Seamstress, Madam Kugazo for the past eight years has tended to 6 acres of grated mangoes, 4 acres of teak, 2 acres of eucalyptus and acacia. Now she is seeking the mandate of her electorate to vote her into the local assembly.Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Bolgatanga, Madam Kugazo said her motivation to contest the polls stems from her desire to assist the people, mostly woman from her electoral area who do not get any form of support for the work they do.She said her election to the assembly will serve as a platform to trumpet the needs of her colleague women and children and persuade the assembly to take decision that will benefit women who are underrepresented in the assembly.She said although woman play a critical role in decision making the reality is that they suffer some level of discrimination and said the time has come for all to join hands to fight for their rightful place in society.Madam Kugazo also appealed to the chiefs and opinion leaders in the electoral area to throw their support behind to bring change to their community.
Madam Gifty Ntaaga Ayomalie, Dulugu Electoral Area , Bolgatanga Municipality Madam Ayomalie epitomizes the oft said adage, “Disability is not inability”. Though physically challenged, Madam Ayomalie has never allowed her condition to become an impediment in her quest to seek reelection into the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly.Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Madam Ayomalie said her first attempt at entering the assembly was met with several challenges which she overcame with ease.According to her, while her opponents were hammering on her physical disability being an impediment, she focused on what she can do for her community. She said through her lobbying skills, she has being able to source funds for some women groups in the community.According to her, she has also lobbied to get some schools in her community to be enrolled into the school feeding programme as well as funds to rehabilitate a dam for dry season gardening.Madam Ayomalie, a staff of the Judicial Service said the work of an assembly woman is not easy but with hard work and determination one can surmount it. She maintained that her interest in the race is to encourage other physically challenged persoion not to give up on life. She is however calling for support for women, both financial and logistics to enable more women take part in the district level elections.
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