District Level Elections: 24 women contesting 706 men in the Upper West Region

Twenty-four (24) women have filed to contest with seven hundred and six (706) men in the December 19, 2023 District-Level Elections in the various municipalities and districts in the Upper West Region.

“For the Unit Committee nominations, 1,897 nominations were received, with 64 being females. This diversity in nominations reflects a step towards inclusive representation in our local governance structures,” Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, the Upper West Regional Minister said during a media engagement in Wa ahead of the elections.

He encouraged voters to support female candidates to increase their representation in district assemblies.

"A significant number of women do not seem to display interest in participating in elections. However, it is crucial to have women play a role in the decision-making process and represent their communities at the district assembly. Therefore, when we cast our ballots, we should not overlook the importance of women's participation," he added.

Only nine female contestants emerged winners in the 2015 district level elections in the Upper West Region out of a total of 37 females who contested in the elections across the region.

According to Dr Bin Salih, the Electoral Commission has trained 3,417 officials for the elections in the region.

“The Electoral Commission’s efforts in training election officials-comprising Presiding Officers, Verification Officers, and Ballot Issuers have been ongoing.

Crucially, the necessary election materials, including the biometric verification devices (BVD) and pink sheets, have been received and dispatched to the districts for charging, ready to facilitate the electoral process,” he added.

Dr Bin Salih indicated that the government and relevant agencies are committed to supporting the Electoral Commission to guarantee a smooth process.

“Security measures will be in place to safeguard polling stations and ensure the safety of voters, election officials and materials,” the minister added.