The parties assured women's groups and gender activists that women constitute majority of Ghana's population (about 51 per cent) and their empowerment and involvement in decision-making was very important to the economic development of Ghana. According to the parties, they have policies in place to empower women and help increase women's participation in party and national politics.

This was disclosed at the second women's dialogue with political parties which was organised by WiLDAF Ghana and the WKPII partners (Gender Centre, FIDA Ghana and The Hunger Project) in Accra.

According to the parties, women could do better when given the chance and it was therefore necessary to encourage and give them the opportunity to prove themselves. And gender activists said they would hold the parties accountable to their commitments.

Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, the presidential aspirant of the PPP, noted that they had already shown their commitment by choosing a female running mate. Dr Nduom said women should be encouraged to compete with their male counterparts and that women could do better when given the opportunity. "All that the women need is the courage, confidence and resources, women bring results when given the space. It is time for women to move forward," he said.

Dr Nduom stated that the PPP had reserved 20 per cent of executive positions in the party for women at the district level. Also, women were being supported to go into the national parliament where they could learn governance at the highest level.

Answering a question on how to improve the quality of education, the PPP presidential aspirant indicated that there was the need to improve the quality of education at all levels, assuring of free, compulsory and continuous education, with emphasis on compulsory aspect to ensure that all children of school-going age attend school.

Touching on unemployment, he said the high rate should be blamed squarely on the doors of the government which is not able to create employment for the youth. He said it was the duty of the government to create employment. This, he said, could be done by adding value to the country's raw materials. "The PPP would establish the women enterprise fund which would cater for women in small and medium scale enterprises financially," he said.

On agriculture, Dr Nduom said the government should use its purchasing power to make use of home-grown produce and heavily tax imported goods. He called on Ghanaians to eat what they grow. He said the PPP would tackle preventive diseases such as malaria and cholera which mostly kill women when elected into office.

Dr. Nduon said the PPP would ensure the passage of the Property Rights and Spousal Bill (PRSB) within six month if elected into office.

Mr Hassan Ayariga, the presidential aspirant of the PNC, was of the view that what was important was the implementation of policies that political parties have put in place in advancing the cause of women but not the policies themselves. He said when the policies are not being implemented to help women, they were of no use. It was therefore important for parties to put their policies into action for women to acknowledge that the parties were being pro-active. He also observed that the PNC was considering a woman as a running mate.

Mr Ayariga, commenting on the high unemployment rate, noted that there was the need to take a second look at the courses being offered by the tertiary institutions. According to him, graduates from these institutions should have entrepreneurial skills to enable them create jobs to absorb those from the polytechnics and the vocational institutions. "Graduates should not expect government to create jobs for them. They should be able to create jobs themselves," he said.

On education, he said there was the need to involve government, students, parents and teachers in the educational process. He said it was important for students to understand the importance of education.

Touching on agriculture, Mr Ayariga said the PNC would mechanise farms, support farmers with farm implements, financial assistance as well as providing market for their produce. The PNC would pass the PRSB within 100 days when elected. When elected into power, the PNC would restructure and use the National Health Insurance Scheme intensively.

Dr Abu Sakara, the presidential aspirant of CPP, said affirmative action, which was started by Dr Kwame Nkrumah, was discontinued by successive governments, and that is why the country is where it is now. If other governments had continued with the policy, he said, the country would have more women in decision-making positions. Dr Sakara submitted that there was the need to break the traditional barriers that prevent women from taking up leadership positions in society. This should be done in consultation with the traditional authorities.

He also mentioned the lack of resource as one of the challenges that constrain women from taking up the opportunity to participate in decision-making. He said when given the chance, women could do better considering their roles at home, and as women were better managers than men. Therefore the role of women in national development was very important. "The partnership between men and women is very important and should be encouraged. This will encourage women to take up leadership positions in society," he said.

He stated that the CPP was considering a woman as its running mate but this would be based on competence. Answering a question on education, Dr Sakara said there was the need to encourage women at the tertiary to go into science subjects rather than the humanities to break the myth of science being for men. Also, increased provision of infrastructure at the entry level through to the tertiary would improve school enrolment.

On unemployment, he said retraining of graduates from the institutions of higher learning to fit into the job market was very important. He said the CPP government would take pro-active measures to create employment to absorb graduate. Touching on the agriculture sector, he said CPP would ensure that that cost of production and labour is reduced in order to connect small-scale farmers to the medium and large-scale farmers to reduce cost. Also, increased and improved access roads to farming communities would ensure that the farmers' produce would be transported to the urban areas for sale. The CPP, he added, would invest more in health care by expanding access to the services and also train more doctors and nurses to work in the hinterland.

The presidential aspirants of the two main political parties were absent. They were, however, represented by party officials. The New Patriotic Party was represented by Ms Ursula Owusu while the National Democratic Congress was represented by Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs.