Women in Fako Division have resolved to bridge the gap to decision making processes and have demanded for accountability in local service delivery.

The women made the pledge during a one-day training workshop for female leaders in Fako, Tuesday, August 5, 2014, organised by the Centre for Electoral Studies (CDES) Cameroon in the conference hall of the Tiko Council.

The workshop was held under the theme: “Fako Women bridging the Gap to Decision Making Processes, and Accountability in Local Service Delivery.”

In her opening address, Moffah Judith Lyengu Luma, South west Regional Delegate for Women’s Empowerment and the Family lauded CDES for organising the seminar and appreciated government for the strides made to include women in the decision making process.

“Women make up more than 50% of the world’s population and they are making tremendous efforts to positively impact on the lives of people, but they are poorly represented in decision making positions in Cameroon and elsewhere,” she said.

The Regional Delegate said government is making efforts to give women a fair chance to participate in the decision making process, but stressed that “appointments should be made on the basis of merit and qualification and that gender neutral and unambiguous criteria be applied to give equal chances to both sexes or with priority to the underrepresented sex.”

The lead facilitator of the workshop, Dorothy Forsac Tata diagnosed the factors hindering women from ascending to decision making positions. The women expounded on the background on sex-gender concept and how it has brought about a gap to decision making on the part of women.

The women were unanimous on why women should be promoted in decision making processes and laid out the impact of women in effective local service delivery.

At the close of the workshop, the women came up with recommendations to increase and sustain participation of women in decision making positions and processes at the political, professional, social and economic levels, among others.

The women were unanimous at the end of the workshop that if Cameroon must attain emergence by 2035, more women should be involved in decision making positions and they should be schooled on the democratic principles and obligations for a better service delivery and management of their various jobs, homes, communities and the nation as a whole.

The Acting Director of CDES Cameroon, Akomondi Tambe urged the women to put the knowledge acquired into practice. He enjoined them to educate their women folk on why they should get actively involved in the decision making processes of their communities.