'We know Politics II' project in the offing

Saturday, July 31, 2010 (The Mirror Pg 19)

By Rebecca Kwei
In 2008, the Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) and three other NGOs implemented the “We Know Politics: Hearing women’s voices in the 2008 elections” project a bid to increase the participation of women in policy-making.
The project made gains in ensuring that the concerns of women remained an integral part of the political campaign in 2008.
According to the National Programme Co-ordinator of WiLDAF, Ms Bernice Sam, the project’s outcomes demonstrated a dearth of understanding of government and governance.
She said more districts and particularly more women need information, capacity and skills to engage with government at the district and national levels.
“NGOs do not have to wait until an election year before providing support for individuals and communities,” she added.
Consequently, Ms Sam said WiLDAF Ghana and its partners are continuing to engage with citizens of districts for the next three years by implementing the phase two of the “We Know Politics” project.
The project is titled “Good governance through increasing women’s participation in Ghana’s Political Processes (We Know Politics II) and it will be launched on August 4, 2010.
The other partners are Gender Studies and Human Rights Documentation Centre, the Hunger Project and the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA Ghana) and sponsored by the European Union represented by the European Commission in Ghana, UK Aid, Ghana, Womankind World-wide UK/UK Aid, London.
Ms Sam said the project will target 24 districts in the 10 regions of Ghana and it will aim at creating an environment where women are able to effectively participate in politics and public life.
It is expected that the “We Know Politics II” project will among others increase effectiveness of women’s participation in politics to address women’s issues at the local and national levels by 2013 and the government and main political parties produce affirmative action policies to ensure at least 40 per cent women’s representation in party positions and elections.