The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has urged RUWA-Ghana LBG to encourage grassroots women to engage in “politics of options” rather than allow political differences to breed hatred and division.
He gave the advice when he received the organisation’s Board of Trustees at the Sir Emmanuel Charles Quist Conference Hall in Parliament House on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
The Speaker commended RUWA-Ghana for its contributions to women’s economic empowerment and political participation, particularly in the Northern and Upper West Regions. He cited the organisation’s role in supporting three women who were elected in the 2019 District Assembly elections.
“Women are agents of development,” Mr Bagbin said, emphasising their contributions to household management, childcare, agriculture and community development.
He observed that women in rural communities often bear significant domestic and economic responsibilities, leaving them with limited opportunities to participate in public discourse. He cited intervention such as providing grinding mills to reduce women’s workload as an example of how practical support could improve their livelihoods and create opportunities for greater participation in development.
Mr Bagbin urged RUWA-Ghana to educate women to assess political leaders based on their performance and contributions to their communities rather than party affiliations. He also encouraged the organisation to work with religious leaders, traditional authorities and other stakeholders to strengthen women’s confidence and leadership capacity.
“Education is not only the formal one; the informal one is also important,” he stressed, highlighting the importance of community education and partnerships in changing attitudes towards women’s leadership.
The Speaker further advised the organisation to consolidate its existing achievements, identify communities where targeted interventions could make a difference and build partnerships to expand its work. He expressed willingness to facilitate further engagement with Parliament and encouraged RUWA-Ghana to provide details of the communities and constituencies it intended to target.
The Speaker’s remarks followed a presentation by RUWA-Ghana’s Executive Director, Mr Masud Aziz Rauf, titled “Empowering Women Economically and Politically: Lessons from Community-Level Action and Opportunities for National Impact.”
Mr Rauf disclosed that RUWA-Ghana had supported 54 Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), reaching 1,350 women across six districts and supporting more than 200 businesses in the Northern and Upper West Regions.
He explained that the savings groups provide women with access to small loans, support their businesses and strengthen their confidence, leadership skills and collective action.
Presenting lessons from the organisation’s 2019 District Assembly elections campaign, Mr Rauf said the initiative targeted 30 women, but 21 filed to contest and three were successfully elected.
“The national figure in 2019 was 229. So out of that 229, we contributed three from our campaign,” he said, referring to the national number of women elected to District Assemblies.
Building on this experience, RUWA-Ghana proposed a new initiative ahead of the 2027 District Assembly elections to identify, train and mentor more women, strengthen community support and encourage qualified women to contest. The initiative will be non-partisan and will not endorse political parties or individual candidates.
The organisation is seeking institutional collaboration with Parliament and other stakeholders to promote civic education, public awareness and women’s representation in local governance.
Speaking on behalf of the Board of Trustees, the Chairperson, Dr Sylvia Josephine Anie, thanked the Speaker for sharing his experiences and insights. She also appealed for support for RUWA-Ghana’s fundraising initiative to expand its women’s empowerment programmes and requested guidance in identifying potential partners.
In response, Mr Bagbin assured the delegation: “You will definitely hear from us.”
Other members of the RUWA-Ghana delegation included Alhaji Salifu Abdul-Rahaman, former Editor of the Ghanaian Times and Board Member; Madam Issah Fuseina, Secretary to the Board of Trustees; Kwabena Ahudey Sr., supporting staff; and Mr Hudu Hafiz, Media and Communications Officer.
The Speaker was accompanied by Mr Inusah Mohammed, Assistant Deputy Clerk, Speakership, Leadership and Member Service; Prof. Turosong Damasus, Executive Secretary to the Speaker; and Col. Francis Anemana (Rtd.), Aide to the Speaker – Special Duties.
RUWA-Ghana LBG has more than two decades of experience in women’s economic empowerment, gender equality, governance, community mobilisation and advocacy. The organisation remains committed to promoting women’s economic independence, inclusive governance and social justice.
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