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ABANTU and STAR-Ghana Foundation Launch Initiative to Boost Women’s Participation in Politics

On November 6, 2024, STAR-Ghana Foundation, in partnership with ABANTU and with funding from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, launched the Strengthening Capacities on Gender Equality and Socially Inclusive Ghana’s Elections 2024 and Beyond project at Sunlodge Hotel in Accra.

This initiative aims to address barriers to women’s political participation by enhancing their skills and creating a more supportive environment for women in leadership roles.

Speaking at the launch, Raymond Danso, Portfolio Manager at STAR-Ghana Foundation, highlighted the critical need for capacity-building efforts like this, especially to support women who may not yet have access to the resources required for leadership roles. “As much as a lot of women do have their capacities, a lot more also need to be supported through capacity building,” Danso noted. “In that way, we also create incentives for their participation.”

Danso pointed to numerous challenges—ranging from the high cost of political engagement to patriarchal norms and exclusive political language—that continue to discourage women’s involvement in politics. He stressed that men play a significant role in supporting women’s rise in leadership. “As men, we also need to cautiously mobilize ourselves and support our women for various leadership positions,” he said, adding that efforts must go beyond token participation to include real opportunities and supportive environments for women.

He further called for the passage of the Affirmative Action Law, stating that implementation is crucial for sustained change. Danso also expressed hope for peaceful elections, emphasizing that “elections are not meant to be chaotic.” Ensuring peace, he asserted, is essential for an inclusive and stable electoral process.

This initiative is part of STAR-Ghana’s Inclusive Elections and Accountable Governance Initiative, which involves various projects across regions to support women, marginalized communities, persons with disabilities, and youth, creating pathways for their active participation in governance.

 

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