ghana ad ghana ad ghana ad
  • 3Sports
  • Home
  • MG Radio
3news
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • World
  • Showbiz
  • 3Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Tilapia
  • MORE
    • Education
    • Features
    • Tech
    • Health
    • GMB
    • Mentor
    • Coronavirus
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • World
  • Showbiz
  • 3Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Tilapia
  • MORE
    • Education
    • Features
    • Tech
    • Health
    • GMB
    • Mentor
    • Coronavirus
No Result
View All Result
3news
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Nkrumah justifies Akufo-Addo’s call for more gender activism

June 6, 2019
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah is the Information Minister

Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has provided clarity to the comments of President Akufo-Addo about the need for women in Ghana to be more dynamic in their activism for gender equality.

realityapp realityapp realityapp

The President Tuesday was on the panel of the 2019 Women Deliver Conference, a gathering of gender advocates in Canada, where he observed there was not enough activism from the female dominated population in Ghana. The President acknowledged women needed power but added they have to do more to get that power.

But his comments were met with fury, especially from the feminist communities and groupings, who argued that doors are deliberately closed on women. The feminists argued it was men who needed to do more to support women attain positions of power.

In the heat of the debate as to whether or not what the President said  is the reality, some have  suggested the President goofed with his utterances, especially when he spoke in his capacity as a gender advocate.

RelatedPosts

Hawa Koomson secures more approval votes than Oppong Nkrumah, Afriyie Akoto in Parliament

Hawa Koomson secures more approval votes than Oppong Nkrumah, Afriyie Akoto in Parliament

March 4, 2021

Plenary should reverse Oppong Nkrumah’s rejection, affirm Koomson’s – Prof Asare

March 2, 2021

NDC MPs on Appointments Committee reject Oppong Nkrumah and 2 others

March 2, 2021

But Information Minister in an essay said the President’s commitment to gender advocacy cannot be under estimated.

He noted Akufo-Addo is the only president in the political history of the country to have the most female appointees in government.

Below is the full essay:

President Akufo Addo’s commitment to women empowerment is not in doubt

He has appointed more women than any other president in our nation’s history. And, his actions can be seen where it matters most, empowering the girl child through education to be able to compete on equal terms, at least, by preparing them for the future.

President Akufo-Addo’s recent comment that there hasn’t been enough dynamism in the gender parity agenda has generated a lot of public debate.

What appears missing in the debate, however, is whether or not what he is saying is the reality.

Some have taken issue with the President’s position on the matter and have suggested that President Akufo-Addo ought to have repeated the latest buzzword of feminists: of ‘women must be amplified.”

Whether the debate in the western world is one about “amplification” rather than “empowerment” is a debate that may not necessarily put in a classroom the Ghanaian girl child whose parents have to choose between she and her brother as to which of the two should their parents  spend the money they don’t have to put through secondary education.

President Akufo-Addo chose the path of the hard truth which may sound unpopular to feminists but remains a fact; that in the gender parity journey, we could do with a lot more dynamism where it matters most.

As the President postulated, talking up the subject and campaigning for same are all laudable.

However, one critical area remains unattended to; getting enough women around the decision-making table to participate in decision making at the highest of levels.

At least three key cabinet positions of his government are held by women: attorney general, foreign affairs and local government.

He made the point that if women don’t for instance put themselves up to be elected as candidates then it is difficult to have a majority of them as ministers because at least half of his ministers per the Constitution must come from the legislature.

Political parties in Ghana go as far as reducing the filing fees for women to encourage greater participation.

This is what the President describes as women getting hold of the levers of power and decision making.

President Akufo-Addo has always been a firm believer that the path to effecting any change lies in getting hold of Political power.

That is why for decades he has been involved in the hurly burly of Politics seeking power to bring about the change he desires.

This has come at great cost to him over the years. But he believes that without power, only marginal impact can be made.

He therefore argues that advocates must also channel their energies towards getting women to take hold of the levers of power and decision making.

This is where he argues the dynamism required has not being enough.

Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in partnership with the Institute of Local Government studies has recently published an analysis titled “A Gender Analysis of Political Appointments in Ghana since Independence” which makes interesting reading. In the 2016 election for example only 137 females contested parliamentary positions out of the 1258 candidates for the 275 seats.

The 52% of women in Ghana in the opinion of Mr President must count for something here. Again, out of the 137 only 35 won seats.

In 2012 only 133 women contested as against 1332 men.

The analysis suggests that on the average, women representation in leadership positions in Ghana has hovered around 12% across various administrations since Independence.

The President’s argument is that there needs to be more dynamism here in getting more women to put themselves up for office where it matters most.

On his Part, Akufo-Addo has done a lot to amplify and empower women.

He continues to believe in pushing women forward as much as possible.

His argument is that what is needed next is to get increased dynamism that gets more women to step forward even when not pushed.

It is an open secret that in 2008 his first choice for running mate was a woman. In the 2012 NPP parliamentary primaries, he argued that sitting female MPs should be protected while lowering costs for women aspirants.

On his watch, the gender question has significantly improved.

He has appointed the first female Chief of Staff, ensured that the positions of Chief Justice and cabinet secretary are filled by competent women.  36 of his MMDCEs as well as several top executives of State-owned Enterprises are now women.

Records show that President Akufo-Addo has appointed the highest number of women as Ministers in the 4th Republic.

  1. J Rawlings

First term =15%

2nd term =13. 58%

2. A Kufuor

2 terms =11.43%

3. E. A Mills

First Term = 18.35

4. John Mahama

First Term = 17.86.

Nana Akufo Addo

First Term = 19.24%

President Akufo-Addo achieved this despite a constitutional provision that requires appointments of 50% of Ministers from Parliament with few female representations.

Akufo-Addo’s call for increased dynamism will add a new layer to what he has done personally already and therefore must be supported.

President Akufo-Addo is the first to set up a specific fund to support women entrepreneurs with disability.

Work is ongoing on an Affirmative action bill as well as key amendments to the Interstate Succession Law to further empower women and eliminate discrimination against them.

He is not against empowerment and not against amplification.

He more than many has demonstrated his commitment to both.

His call is to add a third and perhaps most important layer; Increased dynamism by women themselves so that that 52% statistic will count where it matters most.

Source:3news.com | Ghana

 

Previous Post

Kobina Ansah talks addictions in new play: The Boy Called A Girl

Next Post

Ankaful patient, 63, bruised by staff

Related Posts

Hawa Koomson secures more approval votes than Oppong Nkrumah, Afriyie Akoto in Parliament
Featured Story

Hawa Koomson secures more approval votes than Oppong Nkrumah, Afriyie Akoto in Parliament

March 4, 2021
Plenary should reverse Oppong Nkrumah’s rejection, affirm Koomson’s – Prof Asare
Major Top Story

Plenary should reverse Oppong Nkrumah’s rejection, affirm Koomson’s – Prof Asare

March 2, 2021
Mahama’s legal team intends to delay hearing of Election Petition – Oppong Nkrumah
Featured Story

NDC MPs on Appointments Committee reject Oppong Nkrumah and 2 others

March 2, 2021
Coronavirus

Received Covid-19 vaccines to be deployed from March 2 – Oppong Nkrumah

February 25, 2021
Mahama’s legal team intends to delay hearing of Election Petition – Oppong Nkrumah
Featured Story

Projection of election results by media apt – Oppong Nkrumah

February 18, 2021
Petitioner seeking to adduce fresh evidence after closing case– Oppong Nkrumah
Major Top Story

In the minds of NDC, Tsatsu knows the law than all the 7 or 9 justices – Oppong Nkrumah

February 17, 2021
Next Post

Ankaful patient, 63, bruised by staff

Discussion about this post

Stay Connected

  • 1.7M Fans
  • 211k Subscribers
Ghana month Ghana month Ghana month
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Video: I’m gay, I prefer men like John Dumelo – Pappy Kojo

Video: I’m gay, I prefer men like John Dumelo – Pappy Kojo

February 21, 2021

Eugene Arhin dragged to court for ‘adultery’; wife demands GH¢2m in settlement

February 11, 2021
Esther Cobbah appointed onto board of IPRA

Esther Cobbah appointed onto board of IPRA

February 18, 2021
NPP PC aspirant defects to NDC in Odododiodio

NPP PC aspirant defects to NDC in Odododiodio

February 23, 2021

We will not disappoint you in future – Minority assures NDC supporters

March 5, 2021

UK ‘to cut aid to Syria and African countries’

March 5, 2021
New CDS charges personnel to take Covid-19 vaccines

New CDS charges personnel to take Covid-19 vaccines

March 5, 2021
My collaboration with Beyonce hasn’t been appreciated enough – Shatta Wale

My collaboration with Beyonce hasn’t been appreciated enough – Shatta Wale

March 5, 2021

Recent News

We will not disappoint you in future – Minority assures NDC supporters

March 5, 2021

UK ‘to cut aid to Syria and African countries’

March 5, 2021
New CDS charges personnel to take Covid-19 vaccines

New CDS charges personnel to take Covid-19 vaccines

March 5, 2021
My collaboration with Beyonce hasn’t been appreciated enough – Shatta Wale

My collaboration with Beyonce hasn’t been appreciated enough – Shatta Wale

March 5, 2021
3news

3news.com is the fastest growing news portal in Ghana. Get all breaking news updates, latest news headlines, local and world stories, showbiz, lifestyle etc.

Follow Us

Browse by Category

Recent News

We will not disappoint you in future – Minority assures NDC supporters

March 5, 2021

UK ‘to cut aid to Syria and African countries’

March 5, 2021
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2021 Media General - Developed and managed by MG Digital.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • World
  • Showbiz
  • 3Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Tilapia
  • MORE
    • Education
    • Features
    • Tech
    • Health
    • GMB
    • Mentor
    • Coronavirus

© 2021 Media General - Developed and managed by MG Digital.