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Women in Northern Ghana have called on political parties to uphold their manifesto promises, particularly those on women empowerment, within the first 100 days of a new government’s term.
In a communique issued at a women Economic Dialogue in Tamale, an Administrator at the University for Development Studies, Faidatu Alhassan on behalf of the women outlined key demands, including the enforcement of the Affirmative Action Law within the first 100 days of a new government’s term.
She emphasised the need for concrete actions to address women’s economic challenges, strengthen gender-related institutions and enforce environmental and social protection laws.
Organised by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Ghana in collaboration with the Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA) Ghana and YARO, the event brought together about 60 women from the five regions of the north to scrutinise the policies outlined in political party manifestos.
The dialogue provided a platform for them to engage directly with political parties, seek clarity on policy proposals and share perspectives on effective implementation.
It was on the theme “Towards Sustainable Development: The Economy We Want,”.
Discussions also centred on ensuring inclusive growth and development strategies that prioritise women’s perspectives and needs.
For her part, the Executive Director of SWIDA Ghana, Alima Sagito Saeed stressed the need for political manifestos to be treated as binding social contracts.
She urged political parties to outline measurable outcomes for each policy and create mechanisms for tracking progress.
“Economic policies in manifestos are pivotal for fostering equitable development.
For marginalised groups, especially women, these policies must translate into tangible benefits. Citizens must actively engage, ask hard questions and demand specifics,” she said.
Hajia Saeed also called for expanded women-centred healthcare services, particularly in maternal and mental health care, and stronger social safety nets for women in informal sectors.
The Programmes Coordinator at FES Ghana, Eunice Asiedu, commended participants for their contributions and expressed hope that the dialogue would guide the implementation of inclusive government policies.
