The Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF), has expressed fear in the current trend of appointments made by the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
It said the appointments did not reflect the promise made in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 2016 Manifesto.
It said if government was not able to achieve even the minimum of 30 per cent threshold of women’s representation, then Ghana would be at a lost in the next 50 years.
Mrs Magdalene Kannae, a Board Member of WiLDAF speaking at a press conference in Accra said the nine women appointed out of the 36 ministerial nominations fell short of the International, Regional and National standards and that of the NPP.
“Ghana has signed onto a number of conventions, treaties and protocols such as the Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Beijing Platform for Action, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Commonwealth Plan of Action on Gender Equality.
“These set the minimum target of 30 per cent representation women in decision making positions,” she stated.
She said the African Union Charter on Human and Peoples Right of Women in Africa’s provision on the gender equality also set a target of 50 per cent representation of men and women in public office.
Mrs Kannae urged the President to fulfil its social development agenda by ensuring that aside the ministerial positions, women were well represented and appointed as deputy ministers, ambassadors, heads of district assemblies including district chief executives, commissions, councils and government appointees to public boards.
She also asked the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Attorney General’s Office to expedite the process of resubmitting to Parliament the Affirmative Action Bill for it consideration.
The NPP-led parliament must pass the Affirmative Action Law as soon as possible, she said.
Mr Frank Boagya, the Manager of Governance WiLDAF, said: “One or two appointments do not cover the 30 per cent but it should be across board and at least every list should have 30 per cent.
“If NPP and the NDC (National Democratic Congress), who have ruled the country for the past 25 years are not able to appoint enough women into positions then they are not national in character.
“We will continue the struggle and advocate until we get there because we have been working across board with all the governments and we will always do this work until we achieve our target,” he added.
The list of women appointees so far by the President, include Foreign Affairs – Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, Attorney General –Ms Gloria Akufo, Local Government –Hajia Alima Mahama, Gender, Children and Social Protection – Ms Otiko Afisa Djaba.
The others are Ministry of Communication – Mrs Ursula Owusu, Special Development Initiative – Ms Mavis Hawa Koomson, Ministry of Fisheries –Ms Elizabeth Afoley Quaye,
Ministry of Aviation – Mrs Cecelia Dapaah and Mrs Frema Osei-Opare, Chief of Staff.
Source: GNA
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As far Ghana is concerned at this time of economic indebtedness inherited from the NDC Government, competent leaders are needed to deliver Ghanaians from the current problems not representation. Full representation will be looked at after we have been delivered from the economic chaos else we can put in incompetent women there who will worsen the already bad situation. We need women at every point in life so please exercise patience, you will surely be part of the team leading Ghana to the promise land.
Where from these people? Please give us some breathing space. Aaah do you people think we need the likes of Betty Mould Iddrisu,Dzifa Ativor or Victoria Hammer's in Ghana again? Please stop disturbing our ears. We only need competent people to work for us. Nana can appoint only males as long as they can perform we will have no problem with him in 2020, but if he goes by these gender whatever and he fails we will vote against him massively.
GTFOHWTBS! Move back to nigeria with your skin pain and allow us Ghanaians to enjoy our country! God himself installed Nana and you and your pathetic ndc will be out of government until thy sweet kingdom come. In 4 years I bet you, you'll vote for nana yourself! Lmao
LIKE SERIOUSLY,,,, WILDAF OR WHAT EVER MUST BE JERKS.... TO THINK THAT SATAN KEEPS HIS PROMISES... AND IF THEY ARE NOT JERKS,,,, THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT NOTHING OF THAT MANIFESTO CAN BE TAKEN SERIOUS.... OR ARE THEY SAYING THAT WHEN THEY SEE A SHELL MAKING NOISE,,, THEY CAN NOT TELL IT IS EMPTY???? IF SO,,, THEN WHERE IS ALL THEIR BOOK KNOWLEDGE. GOD HELP THEM IF THEY WILL SEE THE DAY LIGHT OF THAT MANIFESTO..... ***barred word*** SCHOLARS.
I don't think nana has finished making appointments and deputy misiterial appointments yet so pls WILDAF hold your horses!
Where we you Madam WILDAF when we needed women to context for elections as MPs. You sit in the comfort of your office and you want to be appointed? What happens to those men who sacrificed their time and resources and in some cases, imperiled themselves to make NPP win?