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On the occasion of international women day, the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) shares in the view of the theme; ‘Empowering Women, Empowering humanity: Picture it!  

While acknowledging progress made in the country in upholding the rights of women and promoting equality, CDD-Ghana believes, however, that much more remains to be done for our country to achieve the ultimate goal of achieving ‘planet 50/50 before 2030’. 

CDD-Ghana is still concerned about the appallingly representation of women in the key democratic governance institutions. Women make up 51% of the population according to the 2010 population census; however this cannot be said about women representation in local and national decision-making processes.

Women representation and participation over the years has been limited and facilitated by social and cultural circumstance, economic situation and political system which encourage male dominance.

Since the beginning of the fourth republic, women representation in parliament has always been hovering around 7.5% to 10.9%. In 2012 elections, in which the number of constituencies was increased from 230 to 275, women representation did not increase but rather stagnated. 

Women representation in local governance is not any better; data on aspirants available to the center for the just postponed district level election showed a very low number of candidates for women. Women make up less than 6% of Assembly aspirants and 10% of aspirants for the unit committee elections. CDD-Ghana believes that more can be done to improve women’s participation and representation as time goes on.

As we celebrate this day, CDD-Ghana calls on government, civil society organizations, and the media to make collective efforts to maximize women’s involvement in the policy making process and decisions by advocating for the empowerment of women.  As we put in efforts to this, we are then empowering humanity and we can picture the results.