Accra — Various women right groups have expressed their concern about the abysmal performance of women in the recent parliamentary and presidential elections.

Indeed, the number of women in parliament next year would be short by five, leaving only twenty, a situation that has dashed the hopes of Ghana seeing an increase in the number of women in decision-making.

In the 2004 election, 25 out of the 100 women who vied for parliamentary seats won, while 20 out of the 103 women won in 2008.

To many women's rights advocates, what has happened is a wake up call to all who are concerned about the progress of women in Ghana.

Dr. Rose Mensah-Kutin, Convenor of the Network for Women's Rights, Ghana (NETRIGHT) has therefore stressed the need for them to rethink the guiding principles on women's development.

She said this can be done by demanding that national policies conform to human rights agenda, which of course include women's rights.

"Women equally have needs and concerns that ought to be addressed. If we demand for quota system, we will be fulfilling our right for legal obligation," she stated at an event in Accra to review the status of women in Ghana for the year 2008.

Dr. Mensah-Kutin urged the women right fraternity to engage more through the various networks and coalitions for more effective governance.

Mrs. Patricia Blankson Akakpo, Programme Officer of NETRIGHT, explained it is a coalition of organisations and individuals working together to promote gender dimensions of national policies and advocate for policy change.

She said that currently it has a membership of 47 organisations and 96 individuals countrywide.

"The end of year review was instituted in 2003 to review the status of women, which is one of the cardinal goals in promoting the advancement of women in the country."

The occasion was climaxed by the presentation of awards to some individuals for their outstanding contribution to the promotion of women's rights in Ghana.

They include the Acting Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Ms Anna Bossman, Ms Catherine Tsagli, Founder of the Women's Wing of the Association of the Physically Challenged and Ms Adjoa Yeboah-Afari, Immediate Past Editor of the Ghanaian Times newspaper. The 2008 Social Watch Report was also launched. The Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), Abantu for Development and Women in Broadcasting (WIB) organised the encounter.

Prior to the elections, various women groups engaged in forums and created several platforms, all aimed at getting majority of women up the political ladder in the general elections which took place on Sunday December 7, 2008.

Topmost was a women's dialogue with vice presidential aspirants of the various political parties, that focused on the vision, strategies and targets of political parties to address the myriad of concerns of women in Ghana.

These women advocates intensified their campaign for Ghanaians to vote for the few women who were being fielded.

They believed that if successful, more women would have been found in decision-making, since the constitution stipulates that majority of cabinet positions should come from parliament.

However, majority of the seats that the few women (101) parliamentary aspirants contested were deemed not safe.

Dr. Audrey Gadzekpo, Acting Director of the School of Communication Studies, University of Ghana questioned, "If you field women and you don't field them in safe seats then what are trying to do?"

Speaking at a media encounter in Accra she stated that there should have been some kind of support for female candidates to enable them project themselves, adding that "visibility and clout enhance women's chances."

Dr. Rose Mensah-Kutin, Regional Director, Abantu for Development stressed that Ghana as a country must be committed to the path of democracy that she has chosen.

She said it was necessary to reverse the pattern of development to ensure that women are involved in decision-making.

"A different world is possible but it requires hard work. It is important that we challenge certain assumptions about women and the position they hold in society, which in reality does not affect their ability to deliver."

Ms. Kathrin Meissner, Resident Director of FES was disappointed about the number of female candidates for this year's elections and emphasized the need to work to better and early next time.

"We must start work now for everything that has come. Parties must be a people institution and not individuals doing their own thing."