CHAPTER 6 6.1.1 Capacity constraints 4. Reference to capacity constraints appears with regularity in the CSAR, the CRM report, the list of Panel recommendations and the Ghana Programme of Action. Lack of capacity is indeed a major constraint on the ongoing efforts to improve the quality of governance in all spheres of activity. In view of the focus of the APRM programme on the need for improving “political, economic and corporate governance values”, it is imperative that this problem be addressed with determination in a resolute and holistic approach. It is believed that the Government of Ghana has already taken up the challenge by accepting human resource development and good governance as two of the three priorities of its current development strategy. 5. There is no instant solution to the problem of a shortage of capacity (and its impact on efficiency) in the development of the human resources component of any country. In the context of contemporary Africa, capacity building has become a catchword in the search for sustainable development. New initiatives are being introduced by institutions such as the AfDB and World Bank. Ghana will benefit from studies in progress within these institutions, and in seeking multilateral support for its own efforts to address the daunting problem of capacity. 6.1.2 Gender 6. The marginalisation of women remains a very real problem in Ghana, despite constitutional and other legislative provisions to protect and preserve the rights of women. It is manifested strongly at the national, regional and local levels of government, where women numbers in political structures remain conspicuously low. Public and private entities are generally reluctant to promote women to senior positions. In addition, the CRM was confronted by many complaints of violence against women and continued cultural biases against the education of women. 7. It must be emphasised that there is no lack of political will to address this problem, and the Constitution clearly commits the country to the elimination of gender discrimination. Nonetheless, the Panel has thought it necessary to include in a number of its recommendations, proposals for enhanced efforts at individual, local and national level to ensure that all practices of gender discrimination are tackled with greater resolution and eliminated as soon as possible. 140