Upper East Regional Deputy Women’s Organiser aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Monica Bakiva, says she will introduce a “sister-to-sister” mentorship programme to connect younger women interested in politics with experienced female party members if elected.
Ms Bakiva said the initiative would form part of efforts to increase women’s participation in the party, particularly among young women, mothers and market women who may not regularly participate in activities organised at the regional and constituency levels.
“I will make sure that I bring politics to the kitchen and to the market. What it means is that no woman is going to be left out in our activities at the women’s wing,” she said.
She said political engagement should extend beyond meetings in regional and constituency capitals to reach women in their homes, markets and communities.
Ms Bakiva also proposed making party information available in local languages to enable women who do not speak English to better understand and participate in programmes and activities.
Under her proposed “sister-to-sister” initiative, experienced female party members would mentor younger women within their respective constituencies.
She cited Builsa North, Builsa South and Navrongo as examples where experienced women could be paired with younger members interested in becoming more active in politics.
According to her, the mentorship would allow younger women to learn from the experiences of established female party members while strengthening relationships between different generations of women within the NDC.
Entrepreneurship support
Ms Bakiva said her plans would also include helping women interested in entrepreneurship to access information about existing financial and business support opportunities.
She argued that some women had the potential to establish or expand businesses but lacked adequate information about programmes through which they could seek assistance.
Drawing on her own experience in entrepreneurship, Ms Bakiva said she would also provide practical guidance to young women interested in business.
Ms Bakiva has been involved in NDC activities since her student days and previously contested the Upper East Regional Deputy Women’s Organiser position in 2022.
She was one of four candidates in that contest and polled 12 votes. Mariama Anatia Musah won with 15 votes, while Grace Nkaw Awini and Agnes Vwalagui Akwulpwa received 13 and four votes respectively.
Ms Bakiva is seeking the position again, with a campaign focused on increasing women’s participation, mentorship and access to economic opportunities.
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