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Duapa Mothers Union (DMU), a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Kwame Danso in the Sene West District of the Bono East Region, has called for Women Inclusion and Social Equity in the governance structures in the region.
Duapa Mothers Union is a women-focused group with a vision to seeing an inclusive society that enables all women and
girls to enjoy their full potentials.
With support from Star Ghana Foundation, the Association hopes to contribute to the development of women and girls by representing and championing their interest; especially for females with disabilities and mental health conditions.
These were contained in a press release issued on Sunday 15th October, 2023 and signed by Mr Collins Duah, the Project Manager for the Association at Atebubu in the Bono East region.
Our call, the release stated, is made as a result of disparity in representation of females especially women with disabilities in the local governance processes in the District.
Mr Collins Duah said the situation does not promote a fair society and that, the District Chief Executives (DCEs), traditional leaders, religious leaders, civil society groups and all the political party leaderships must initiate a proper action to bridge this gab.
“Duapa Mothers Union is devastated with the current situation in the Sene West District where out of a total of 20 elected Assembly members currently in Sene West District, there is no Woman among them” he indicated.
Unfortunately, the Project Manager added, only 2 women were included out of 10 appointed government nominees, meaning that, women represent 2 out of 30 (6.6%) within the Sene West District Assembly.
Mr Collins Duah disclosed that the sad aspect of the matter is that, there is no woman with disability (0%) appointed or elected to serve in the General Assembly.
“Out of a total of 100 elected Unit Committee members within 20 electoral areas in the Sene West District, there is only one person being a woman, representing 1% and unfortunately there is no woman with disability”
“Only 25 out of 208 people, representing 12% serving on Town Development committees are women, and unfortunately none
of them is a Woman with disability” the release noted.
The Project Manager said the situation can be attributed to existing myths and misconceptions associated with women’s ability to lead in the district especially women with disabilities, which has generated self -stigmatization among more women.
He indicated that community stigma is physically demonstrated by the use of negative words for women in politics especially those with disabilities and recovered from mental health conditions, with obvious disregard for their sentiments.
In churches and other religious spaces, Mr Collins Duah bemoaned how sermons project women as second class of people that cannot lead and disability as a curse or punishment.
“The stigma extends to dependants of women in politics and caregivers of women with disabilities and mental health conditions”
“We are entreating all Community leaders to create a culture of support at community levels that provides equal opportunities for women to take active part in the upcoming District Assembly elections” the release added.Mr Collins Duah encouraged all communities to do away with negative words and phrases that discourages women to freely contest for positions
of the choice.
The Project Manager called on families and men to support women’s agenda and their passion to serve their communities irrespective of their conditions or disability.
He said, “We are calling on the Member of Parliament for Sene West, the DCE, political parties and stakeholders to allocate more slots for women appointments including women with disabilities as Assembly members for the Sene West District”.
The Association later encouraged females especially women with disabilities to rise up, participate and change the social narratives surrounding women participation in governance.
“Duapa Mothers Union believes that, females including women with disabilities have the potentials and that disability is not inability” it emphasized.
The Association believes that, gender, physical and mental conditions should not be a challenge for women to enjoy their full potentials saying “we are empowering Women, Changing Lives”.
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