The Role of Women Traditional Leaders in the Reformed Local Governance System
The Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) organized a program for Queen mothers under the theme: The Role of Women Traditional Leaders in the Reformed Local Governance System.
The role of women in the local governance system was outlined and discussed. Challenges women face in their leadership positions were also identified. It was very intriguing to find out that Ghana is ranked at 147th position out of 193 states when it comes to women's representation in Parliament. The inability of the government to pass Affirmative Action adds to the plight of women in all spheres of life. Curving an honorable and dignified role for Chiefs in Ghana’s local government is the key to supporting women.
Dr. Kwesi Jonah, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana said that Ghanaian chiefs are justifiably opposed to being treated as politically peripheral custodians of culture and heritage not deserving of substantive interpretation into the modern democratic governance. He added that the mode of inclusion of chiefs in local government, the disagreement over the introduction of multiple local Governance still leaves open the question of the specific mode of integration of Ghana’s traditional rulers into the local government system and that several options for integration have been proposed.
He also touched on a proposal for the creation of a COUNCIL FOR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNANCE (CFLDAG). This is structure backed by legislation to be created at every District Assembly. This Council comprising of mainly Chiefs and Queen mothers, one or two local professionals, lawyers, doctors, engineers, accountants as members. The Council’s primary function would be to support and guide the District Chief Executives and the Assembly members in their development roles and take the lead in all conflict resolution. The Council will be particularly supportive of land acquisition for district development and align the customary laws to the development of the district.
Some benefits of CFLDAG were outlined as:
The CFLDAG will offer traditional authorities a dignified, honorable, substantive, and pragmatic pathway to effective participation in local development and governance.
The risk of the district participation in Assembly debate and potential charge of partisanship in Assembly debates and potential charge of partisanship will be significantly minimized.
The CFLDAG will serve as an immediate and ready source of help and support for the resolution of conflicts between MMDCEs and MPs, between MMDCEs and presiding members, etc.