Women empowerment needed to whip up interest in political participation – Priscilla Kuguriye
Priscilla Kuguriye says financial constraints, negative perceptions and inadequate support continue to discourage women from active political participation.
An aspirant for the Women’s Organiser position of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Navrongo Central Constituency, Priscilla Kuguriye has identified inadequate empowerment of women as a major factor hindering their active participation in politics.
According to her, many women lack the financial, political, social and educational support needed to take up leadership roles and contribute meaningfully to the political process.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Wednesday October 7, Kuguriye said there was a need for deliberate efforts to empower more women to participate in politics and take up leadership responsibilities.
“When they are empowered, that is when they will be encouraged to take their place in the political arena.”
She also called on women to support their fellow women who venture into politics, saying solidarity among women was essential to increasing their participation and representation in political leadership.
Kuguriye identified financial constraints, negative perceptions about women in politics and inadequate support as some of the challenges discouraging women from actively participating in the political space.
Touching on her vision for the NDC women’s wing in the Navrongo Central Constituency, she said her focus would be on unity, organisation and skills development if elected.
She said strengthening unity among women would be a priority, arguing that a united women’s wing would provide the collective strength needed to advance the party’s interests in the constituency.
Kuguriye said she intended to lead by example by working with relevant party stakeholders to execute her mandate and called on members, particularly women, to avoid factionalism and practices that could create divisions within the party.
“Vote for competence and not based on factions.”
Kuguriye said she had previously worked with various women’s groups within the constituency on skills development and entrepreneurship initiatives, including soap-making, susu schemes, trading and other income-generating activities.
She pledged to broaden such initiatives if given the opportunity to lead the women’s wing, with the aim of equipping more women with skills and opportunities to improve their livelihoods.
She further said organising the women effectively would be central to her plans, adding that her motivation was to serve and contribute to strengthening the party’s fortunes in the constituency.
“Service is my priority,” she said, stressing her commitment to working with women and other stakeholders to achieve her vision.
Mike 105.3FM | Navrongo | David Adapuna
