House leadership learn about gender issues

House leadership learn about gender issues
The Ghanaian Times, Tuesday, July 15, 2008. Page 4 (News)
Salifu Abdul-Rahaman

The leadership of Parliament is attending a gender training workshop on mainstreaming of gender issues into the work of the House.

The two-day training which started yesterday is being organised by the Office of Parliament with support from the Parliamentary Centre, a Canadian non-governmental organisation.

It is aimed at increasing members’ knowledge and understanding on the concept of gender.

The programme is under the Ghana Parliamentary Committee Support phase two which also aims at strengthening accountability, transparency and participation in parliamentary governance in the country.

Marilyn Aniwa, In-country Coordinator of the Parliamentary Centre, said it is imperative that parliamentarians and the leadership in parliament are conversant with gender challenges so that they would make meaningful contributions to shape policy direction.

She said gender issues are relevant during elections to encourage more women representation in the work of parliament.

Ms Aniwa expressed concern about women representation in parliament adding that some women who were playing key roles in the work of parliament had lost the primaries [therefore were unable] to contest in the December elections.

Mrs Joana Opare, a gender trainer, said it was important for politicians to “put on their gender cap” so that they could plan well with the minted resources to satisfy the needs of the various groups in the society.

She said gender was not an abstract concept but had to do with equal allocation of resources to meet the demands of both females and males.