The Community Development and Advocacy Centre (CODAC) in its project dubbed: “amplifying the voice of the vulnerable” has succeeded in getting 145 women to Councils of Chiefs in five districts of the Upper East Region as part of efforts to promote good governance.
During a presentation at an engagement meeting on the inclusion of women in Councils of Chiefs and Councils of Elders held on Thursday in Bolgatanga, Bukari Issaka, the Programmes Manager of CODAC said, districts in which they have engaged these women include the Garu District, Bawku Municipality, Bongo District, Builsa District and the then Talensi/Nabdam District.
Mr. Issaka added that five-woman networks were formed and are functioning in communities of the districts with action plans for development. He said the women network in the Garu-Tempane District for instance, is working towards the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
He revealed that, the women networks have also lobbied for the construction of a market space at Tongo-Balungo.
Mr. Isaaka also bemoaned a challenge his outfit faced with some of the chiefs in the beginning as they did not want to accept the concept of women joining the Council of Chiefs.
“Initially some chiefs did not want to accept the concept because culturally women are not allowed to be part of decision making.-the Programmes Manager of CODAC said.
“But due to the approaches and the processes we used, which was letting the chief know that there are policies and legislations that says that women have the right to be part of decision making, they understood.”
The Paramount Chief of the Bongo traditional area, Naba Baba Salifu Alemyaarum, on behalf of his colleague chiefs at the meeting, pledged to bring the issue of women inclusiveness in chieftaincy councils before the Regional House of Chiefs for discussion.
By: Joshua Asaah | A1radioonline.com
