Intimidation of women contesting district level elections disincentive for participation in governance -Joseph Bediako

An aspiring Assembly Member for Duayeden Electoral Area in the Nsawam/Adoagyiri District in the Eastern Region, Josephine Bediako, has raised concerns over a section of the citizenry intimidating women contesting in the forthcoming district level elections and asked them to desist from the practice to deepen democracy and good governance.

She indicated that on several occasions she had received life threatening messages and her posters had been defaced and lamented that “if the situation persists it will be a disincentive for women to contest further local and national elections which will not deepen democracy and encourage good governance.”

Speaking on a programme designed for women aspirants on the district level elections dubbed ‘Women’s Profile, Mrs Bediako, a Prisons Officer, bemoaned that “such intimidation is a disincentive to women’s participation in local governance geared towards deepening democracy, good governance, transparency, probity and accountability at the local level.

“It is time a policy is derived to assist and support women contesting in all levels of elections including the district level elections to whip up our enthusiasm and interest for more women into governance and politics however, when given the nod I will partner with the district assembly to institute measures to curb the rate of school drop-outs especially among girls leading to teenage pregnancies in the area.

“For the girl-child to become empowered and self-reliant, there must be an assistance and support system to ensure that she was retained in school and the electorate to vote massively for me to realise my vision for the constituency, I am optimistic that I will carry the day, I appeal to all women to go out and vote for me and women in the various electoral areas should vote for their colleagues to deepen democracy and good governance,” Mrs Bediako stressed. -GNA