The issue of women’s representation in government and politics has been a major concern for many countries across the globe. In Ghana, the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, in collaboration with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and other stakeholders, has organized a program aimed at sensitizing women on the need to take up leadership roles in their various communities. The purpose of this program is to find solutions to why women shy away from politics, create awareness on the need for women to actively participate in all forms of election, advocate for women’s rights, educate women to do away with all forms of religious, cultural, social, and ethnic barriers against women’s participation in local governance, and encourage women’s participation at the local government level.

In the 1960s, it was discovered that women were the backbone of the agrarian economy, which focused mostly on peasant farming to feed the family and sell the rest. Women and children did most of the farm work, yet their efforts were not recognized, and they were relegated to the kitchen. Women were referred to as productive and reproductive agents, which prompted Esther Boserups to publish a paper on the inequalities and injustices women faced. This led to the Women in Development (WID) agenda, which sought to address women’s concerns. However, the approach failed to cater to men, leading to the birth of Women in Development (WAD). The Gender and Development (GAD) approach bridged the gap between men and women politically, socially, and economically.

Governance is concerned with the structure and processes involved in decision-making, accountability, control, and behavior of entities’ top. The principles of good governance include participatory, rule of law, transparency, responsiveness, consensus-oriented, equity and inclusiveness, effectiveness, and efficiency. The arms of government are the Executive (President), Legislature (lawmaking), and Judiciary (Supreme/Lower court). Women’s political participation is a prerequisite for gender equality and genuine democracy. It facilitates women’s direct engagement in public decision-making and ensures better accountability to women.

The hindrances to women’s participation include lack of knowledge, time, family problems, money, marital status, age, poverty, and illiteracy.

To encourage women’s participation, more girls should be encouraged to go and remain in school, women should be educated on their rights, their confidence and capacity should be built, funding should be provided, gender equality should be championed, measures should be adopted that ensure women are reserved some seats in governing institutions, working across party lines through parliamentary women’s causes, and championing issues of gender equality such as elimination of gender-based violence.

Most of the participants contributed immensely with questions and answers. Some men questioned why the department is focusing on women and children and not men. The participants promised to encourage their fellow women to send their female children to school and ensure they remain in school by providing their needs.

A total of 111 people attended the program, comprising 96 females and 15 males. The implementation of the collaboration program was successful, and the staff and administration of LaDMA are commended.

The La Dade Kotopon Municipal Assembly (LaDMA) held a youth parliament in November 2022, which aimed to provide a platform for young people to express their views on important issues affecting their communities. The event was attended by students from various schools in the municipality and provided an opportunity for them to engage in constructive dialogue with policymakers and decision-makers.

The theme for the youth parliament was “Youth Participation in Local Governance: The Role of Young People in Promoting Development.” It was aimed at empowering young people to become active citizens and to play an active role in shaping the development of their communities.

During the event, the youth delegates discussed a wide range of issues, including youth unemployment, education, health, sanitation, and security. They also shared their ideas on how to improve the delivery of services to the youth and other vulnerable groups in the municipality.

The youth parliament was a resounding success, and the participants were commended for their insightful contributions and active participation. The LaDMA officials promised to incorporate some of the ideas generated during the event into their policies and programs aimed at promoting youth development in the municipality.

The event also provided an opportunity for the young people to network and build relationships with other youth leaders in the municipality. It is hoped that this will foster collaboration and inspire the youth to work together to address common challenges and contribute to the development of their communities.

In conclusion, the LaDMA youth parliament is a clear demonstration of the Assembly’s commitment to promoting youth participation in local governance and development. It is a step in the right direction, and it is hoped that more initiatives like this will be organized in the future to further empower the youth to become active citizens and agents of change in their communities.