Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has called for deliberate efforts to encourage girls and young women to take up leadership roles at all levels of society.

Speaking at the National Youth Conference breakout session organised by Plan International Ghana, she said the push for equity and equality must start with creating opportunities for young women to lead.

“We are truly trying to have what we’re looking at in terms of girls and young women’s participation in political leadership. It starts here. It doesn’t start when you get to Parliament. It starts with recognising the value you have as a human being in the body of a woman,” she explained.

The legislator, who is in her third term in Parliament, cautioned that women remain underrepresented in decision-making positions.

“There are 275 Members of Parliament, but only 41 are women, that’s just 14 percent. And unlike other countries, Ghana has no quota system. Every woman who makes it into Parliament has fought her way through, often against men in their own primaries,” she said.

She expressed concern that women’s representation at the local government level has declined over the years.

“In 2006, women made up 10 percent of assembly members, but by 2025 it had dropped to only 5 percent. This is not good enough,” she stressed.

Dr. Zanetor urged both boys and men to become champions of gender equality, noting that women’s issues are societal issues.

“We’re not trying to get rid of the men. We’re just trying to make sure that women have an equal opportunity. How any society treats its women and girls is a reflection of what that society holds dear,” she explained.

She added that empowering young women to step into leadership will lead to more inclusive and sustainable development.

“In countries where women take up leadership positions, development is more inclusive. When women participate in mediation and conflict resolution, peace lasts longer. That’s why your participation as young women matters,” she said.