News:
February 10, 2024
The only female on the Ghanaian delegation to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Laadi Ayii Ayamba is advocating for the various member states national parliaments to ensure that they have enough female lawmakers which would then translate into increased female representatives in the sub-regional bloc.
This, he said would help ensure fair representation of females in the various Committees in the Community Parliament as such representations are really needed.
According to her the dominance of men is largely attributable to the very small percentage of women sent to the Community Parliament by the member states.
In an interview she pointed out that out of the one hundred and fifteen (115) lawmakers in the Community Parliament, there are only seventeen (17) women. Again, Nigeria with its population size and with thirty-five (35) slots has only two female representations in the fifth legislature.
Other member states like Ghana that has eight slots has one (1) female with other member states that has five (5) delegations also send a female each.
Hon Laadi Ayamba commended the Speaker of the fifth legislature of ECOWAS for championing the cause of female to the extent of the Parliament providing a budget for their activities.
In the year 2023 ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (Network) ECOFEPA was able to organize a summit in Abuja-Nigeria which brought together the largest gathering of females and youth around the sub-region to empower them and encourage them to take up leadership positions in the various member states.
She further commended, Sierra Leone which is hosting today’s summit for achieving the thirty percent representation in their national Assembly.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com/Sierra Leone