News:
May 28, 2021
The Vice-President of Liberia Jewel Taylor, has lamented over the shot fall of fifteen females in the current composition of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) Parliament, indicating that out of the one hundred and fifteen (115) members, there are only twenty (20) females.
According to her the ECOWAS Parliament existing protocols provide that there should be a minimum of thirty percent of females.
She made this known on Thursday, May 27, 2021 when she delivered a good will message at the opening of the first Ordinary Session 2021 of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja Nigeria. “May I request that we ensure that the rules governing this parliament of national representation is respected”, he added.
And appealed to the various national Parliaments of the fifteen member states to do their best and ensure that the thirty percent quota is respected. “I recommend that this regional body takes the political will in implementing the protocols that they have singed by demonstrating its full commitment to gender equality”.
The vice-president further noted that the issue of gender equality has been discussed at the global level, and there should be consensus among all stakeholders so that women would be included in all government frameworks.
“If fifty percent of the world’s population who are women are excluded from governance, we would have only fifty percent of the energy, innovation and capacity of growth and development and fifty percent is not just enough for our national parliament and regional parliament”.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com