‘Well-designed support will push more women in governance’

 Valeria Bedjabeng, an aspiring assembly member for Residential Electoral Area, in the New Juaben South Municipality in the Eastern Region, has called for government support and assistance to increase women participation in local governance.

“An affirmative action where men will be barred from contesting in areas where women are contesting at the district level elections will encourage and motivate more women to get involved,” she stressed.

Mrs Bedjabeng, a trader, who is contesting for the second time and battling it out with three men and eight other women, insisted that “the terrain is not easy for women, considering our social and financial status which needs a well-designed support to push more women in governance, under an initiative called “Women’s profile” to project women contesting all forms of national elections in the Eastern Region.

“The women’s profile was instituted in 2015 and enabled 65 women contesting the district level elections to be interviewed and our stories published as well as 12 women who contested the 2016 parliamentary elections on the ticket of political parties, my motivation to contest for the assembly elections is to empower young girls and women to have sources of livelihoods and decent living conditions, after getting involved in some charity work in the area.

“My first term as the representative of the people at the assembly was successful, through my efforts streetlights, footbridges and sources of potable water and many social amenities have been provided for the residents, when given the nod again I will continue what I started doing in the area of girl child and women’s support and assistance as well as care for the aged,” Mrs Bedjabeng touted. -GNA