News:
January 22, 2020
The only female among the Gambian delegation to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Madam Fatoumatta Njai has said she is hopeful of seeing the fifth legislature having two female deputy speakers.
According to Njai, discussions are ongoing and, “we might have two female deputy speakers, it is not confirmed yet”.
In an interview she pointed out that all over the world there are challenges with female representation, at the moment ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) has lost seats of two representatives, “we are hoping the ones to replace them would be females”.
“A country like Nigeria which has thirty-five seats in the Parliament, it should be possible for them to have more female representation”.
As to whether the situation has changed with the re-composition of representation to the fifth legislature, from the Gambia, she noted that she is the only female and with Ghana the re-composition has only one female Ama Pomaa Boateng.
She further pointed out that on the 28th of this month there would be a town hall meeting where, ECOFEPA would discuss issues of challenges of female Parliamentarians and they would be sharing with young female leaders their success stories.
This, she noted, would inform them on how best they can start mentorship programme with them to have more female leaders, adding that there are only three elected females in the National Assembly of the Gambia.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Banjul