the erudite women's empowerment foundation (ewef) has initiated a campaign aimed at bolstering the capacities of young women to assume leadership and decision-making positions within their communities ahead of the 2027 district assembly elections. the initiative:aking positions within their communities ahead of the 2027 District Assembly Elections. The initiative, named the Media for Equality Campaign, is part of the UN Women WYDE Women's Leadership Programme and aims to challenge detrimental social norms, amplify women's voices, and mobilize public support for increased female participation in leadership roles.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mrs. Constance Ohenewaa Ankoma, Executive Director of EWEF, stated that the Foundation is dedicated to equipping 150 young women in three municipalities in the Asante Akim area with the necessary skills and confidence to pursue leadership opportunities. This initiative builds upon the progress achieved under the SHE Leads project, conducted from 2021 to 2025, which focused on promoting leadership development among girls and young women.
Mrs. Ankoma emphasized the need to sustain and amplify the achievements of previous projects by creating more opportunities for young women to engage meaningfully in decision-making spaces. She identified harmful social norms, limited self-confidence, and inadequate financial resources as significant barriers that hinder women from pursuing leadership positions, particularly in politics.
She highlighted that some communities still harbor misconceptions that restrict women's roles to nurturing children and managing the home, posing challenges for women aspiring to leadership. The Foundation aims to sensitize communities to acknowledge women's capabilities and support their participation in leadership roles.
The programme will focus on empowering young women to seize leadership opportunities as they arise. Mrs. Ankoma stressed the importance of self-belief and community support for women aspiring to leadership positions. She encouraged young women to demonstrate competence and commitment, as their effective performance can pave the way for other women to follow.
Mrs. Ankoma also advised young women to build alliances within their families and communities and leverage existing opportunities to gain experience in decision-making spaces. She mentioned that engagements with municipal assemblies have shown that women can effectively participate in local governance when given the opportunity and support.
The Executive Director expressed the Foundation's interest in increasing the number of women contesting the 2027 District Assembly and Unit Committee elections. Despite women holding Municipal Chief Executive positions in two of the three municipalities where the programme is implemented, men still predominantly occupy assembly-member roles. The Foundation plans to collaborate with communities and stakeholders to encourage more women to run for election and to create an environment conducive to their success.
The launch of the Media for Equality Campaign was complemented by a Digital Leadership and Public Speaking Training for 50 young women leaders. The campaign promotes the message: '2027 District Assembly Elections: More Women Must Contest. More Communities Must Support Them.'