February 3, 2025

The parliament of Ghana’s struggle to hit the 30 percent female representation continues to be a mirage with each passing parliament, a situation the Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings requires political will to attain.

Speaking to Ghanamps.com, she said the passage of the Affirmative Action Act must bring some awakening to the political parties to institute measures geared towards actualizing the 30 percent female representation target, adding that parliament itself has no role to play in this, as the whole process of who comes to parliament is carried out on political platforms though independent participation is also allowed.

In the eighth (8th) Parliament, the female representation out of the two hundred and seventy-five seats, was forty females representing 14.5 percent; and the current 9th Parliament also currently has 40 females with Ablekuma North outstanding which by all indication will add one female to the number in parliament as both contenders are females. And that will increase the percentage to 14.8 percent, he stated.

She asserts that there is the need for a paradigm shift to include a lot of sensitization across board, so that people will understand the importance of having the 30 percent and how it will enhance our nation building.

“So the understanding of the value of bringing more women to the decision making table needs to be shared, and not something like being able to attend international conference and all of that; but actually Ghana will suffer for not achieving the thirty percent women representation in Parliament”.

She disclosed that some of the international parliamentary organisations have made it clear that countries that do not reach the thirty percent female representation are not welcomed; and as of last year Ghana was on that lists that has not met that particular requirement.

“It’s unfortunate we know what the percentage of women are in Ghana, we know the value of having women, not just when it’s time to campaign but at the decision table that ultimately affect policy; it also affects legislation which then affect the community as a whole”.

She asserted that we  definitely not doing well enough and that the political parties must do better with regard to representation of women.

“We should stop paying lip service to issues of women representation and actually implement it”, the lawmaker stated.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com