NDC WILL PAY EXTRA ATTENTION TO WOMEN - KOFI ATTOH
By David Allan Paintsil

December 3, 2003 – (Ghanaian Chronicle - Accra) NATIONAL Democratic Congress (NDC) Director for International Relations, Hon. Kofi Attoh says the party would pay extra attention to issues concerning women so as to encourage them to participate in politics.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ho Central said the party lost the last elections because it failed to devote attention to women who form the bulk of the population.

"This time round we are going to devote much attention to women's wing to enable them participate actively in politics", he emphasized.

Mr. Attoh made this remarked when he addressed the NDC Women's Wing at a one day sensitization programme aimed at educating women to go into politics organized by Socialist International Women's Wing (SIW) in Accra on Monday.

Theme for the occasion was: " enhancing the participation of women in politics."

Socialist International Women's Wing is an international political organization, which is autonomous, that work hand in hand with member parties and organistions in order to observe and analyze situations and trends within the framework of social democratic values and goals.

According to Attoh records available to the party indicate that women contributed greatly in the party's victory in both 1992 and 1996 elections.

Mr. Attoh said, the party reviewed her manifesto in 2001 and quickly created international relations department and joined the international association,
which it was accorded a full consultative status within two years period. The MP said the party had also reviewed its manifesto, which places more emphasis on getting more women into politics. The MP was optimistic that the NDC would clinch victory in the next year's elections.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lee Ocran, former deputy minister for environment said it was women who mobilized money and hired lawyers to defend Dr Kwame Nkrumah while in prison during the independent era. He said that NDC recognizes women as powerful and influential partners in democracy and development and urged them to take keen interest in politics, which he noted affects every sphere of life.

Ms Frances Asiam, the NDC National Women Organizer, said the party's philosophy is based on the concept of "social democracy" therefore it is imperative that the role of women in politics should not be overlooked.

She further explained that sustainable development and good governance could only be achieved when women empowerment and equal participation in leadership, as well as political decision- making are integrated into policy making.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200312030541.html