The management of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) received a courtesy call from a delegation that included representatives from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG) to discuss ways to strengthen women’s leadership in local governance.
The visit was a component of the Partnership for Municipal Innovation—Women in Local Leadership (PMI-WILL) Project, a six-year program funded by Global Affairs Canada that aims to improve gender-responsive public service delivery and boost women’s involvement in government.
During the visit, Sheriff Amarh, the PMI-WILL National Project Coordinator, explained that the project’s goal was to improve the lives of women and girls, especially those from underprivileged communities. She also mentioned that the project was being carried out in five countries: Ghana, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Benin, and Zambia.
According to Amarh, the project, which has spread throughout Ghana’s Greater Accra, Eastern, Northern, Upper West, and Bono East regions, has assisted and trained a number of female assembly members to run for office, as well as senior staff and coordinating directors to improve gender-inclusive governance.
The delegation was welcomed by Douglas N.K. Annoful, the AMA’s Metro Coordinating Director, who noted that the organization had worked hard to make sure its services were inclusive of PWDs and gender-sensitive, emphasizing that these efforts were in line with Ghana’s pledges to provide public services that are accessible, equitable, and socially inclusive.
He revealed that the AMA incorporates gender considerations into its budgeting process in order to make sure that policies and programs fairly address the needs of men and women and encourage women to start their own businesses by providing them with market opportunities, financial access, and skill development, especially for female traders in the unorganized sector.
In addition to enforcing disability-friendly building codes to guarantee that public facilities, such as offices and marketplaces, are accessible to people with disabilities, Mr. Annoful pointed out that the Assembly also takes into account the needs of women in city planning, including safe public areas, better sanitation, and kid-friendly amenities.
He reaffirmed the American Medical Association’s dedication to creating an inclusive urban setting where service delivery takes gender and disability into account.
Councillor Kathy Jeffery, a member of the delegation from the Town of Collingwood, Ontario, Canada, praised Ghana’s efforts to support women’s leadership in local governance and said she had visited different regions to learn from local women representatives and share experiences with the Women’s Network.
Honorable Alfred Asiedu Adjei, the President of NALAG and Presiding Member of the AMA, acknowledged the difficulties caused by deeply ingrained patriarchal attitudes but emphasized that attempts were being made to incorporate women into leadership positions and empower them.
Citing the appointment of a female Greater Accra Regional Minister and Ghana’s first female Vice President as noteworthy achievements, he voiced optimism regarding the growing participation of women in key leadership.
Instead of limiting themselves based on their gender, Hon. Adjei advised aspiring women leaders to view themselves as equals to men and to pursue leadership with confidence.
Department heads and other important AMA officials attended the conference.
Source: newsthemegh.com