Women from the National Association of Local Authorities Ghana (NALAG) in Ghana’s Upper West Region commemorated International Women’s Day with a rallying cry for fairer representation of women in district assemblies. The group is made up of both elected and appointed assembly members.The event, held in Wa at July 04, under the global theme “Give to Gain,” highlighted how generosity and collaboration can accelerate gender equality.
Drawing assembly members from various Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), the interactive session zeroed in on the stark gender imbalance in government appointees to these bodies—a disparity the group called “unfortunate and unfair. “Participants pointed to Wa East District Assembly as a glaring example: not a single woman has been appointed there. They resolved to lobby stakeholders, including Upper West Regional Minister Hon. Charles Lwanga Puozuing, for change.
The group’s demands align with Ghana’s Local Government Act, 2016 (Act 936). Section 5(1)(c) empowers the President to appoint up to 30% of assembly members, prioritizing “persons who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields” or represent “marginalized groups.” Crucially, Section 13(2) mandates that at least 30% of appointees must be women to promote gender balance. Section 16 further requires assemblies to ensure equitable representation of women in their composition.” These provisions exist to correct imbalances, yet women remain sidelined,” said Upper West NALAG Ladies Regional Coordinator Hon. Millicent Zuuri, an elected assembly member for the Samatigu Electoral Area. She urged aspiring female leaders to embrace sacrifice and multitasking: “To succeed as a career woman in leadership, you can’t stick to eight hours of sleep. It’s impossible. Balance politics with domestic roles through ingenuity.” Resilience Amid Resistance.
Hon. Millicent Zuuri further dispelled the notion that wowen are not putting themselves up for leadership roles. ‘In the Wa municipality, an unprecedented number of women put themselves forward to be elected as assembly members in the last local government elections but none of them was elected. That’s very painful.’ She however encouraged all those who lost the elections not to give up but to contest in the next ones.
Former Jirapa Municipal Chief Executive who was the facilitator for the program, Hon. Christine Bonbanye Amadu shared her ordeal, underscoring the barriers women face. Nominated by the President in 2017, she endured fierce opposition during confirmation and weekly protests chanting “We don’t want the woman.” “It wasn’t just about performance—it was gender,” she said. Despite the stress that left her “lean and drained,” resilience kept her in office. “Women must grow thick skins against unfounded attacks.”
One of the distinguished Assembly members Madam Putieru Felicia was appreciated with a Gender Equality Inclusion and Women Empowerment Award she was given a plague and an undisclosed amount of money.
The event ended with a commitment to stakeholder engagement, signaling a broader push for equity in local governance.
