Hon Helen Adjoa Ntoso, the Member of Parliament for Krachi West and Chairperson of the Gender and Social Protection Committee in Ghana’s Parliament, has expressed concern that Ghana is at risk of failing to meet the United Nations’ (UN) target of 30% female representation in Parliament by 2025.
She emphasized that without the implementation of a quota system, the country is unlikely to achieve this goal.
In an interview with ExpressNewsGhana following parliament passage of the Affirmative Action Bll, Hon. Ntoso highlighted the slow progress towards gender parity in Ghana’s Parliament, noting that the current female representation stands at just 14%.
“If we are still at 14%, then I don’t know. It means that we are moving at a snail’s pace,” she remarked, stressing the urgency of improving these numbers.
Hon. Ntoso pointed out that recent parliamentary primaries within both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) saw a decline in female candidates, with many being replaced by men.
She indicated that while there was a small gain in the Oti Region, where one woman replaced a male candidate, overall, there was a net loss in female representation.
“So, there’s a deficit of two,” she noted, expressing concern about the ability to even reach 20% female representation in the next Parliament.
She further explained that women face more challenges than men in elections, making it even more difficult to increase their numbers in Parliament.
Hon. Ntoso argued that the only way Ghana could realistically achieve the UN’s 30% target is by adopting a quota system. This would ensure that specific groups, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities, are guaranteed representation.
Reflecting on Ghana’s global standing, she mentioned that the country ranks 147th out of 193 countries in terms of women’s representation in Parliament, a position she finds disappointing.
She also underscored the importance of achieving gender parity not only through elected positions but also through appointments, a commitment she says is part of the agenda of former President John Dramani Mahama should he return to office.
Discussing the political environment, Hon. Ntoso criticized the lack of genuine support for female candidates, even from fellow women, citing her own experience during the 2020 elections when another female politician from the opposing party campaigned against her.
She called for a more conscious effort to support women in politics, beyond party lines, to ensure increased female representation and more balanced decision-making in Parliament.
Hon. Ntoso stressed that without legal frameworks like the Affirmative Action Bill, which mandates gender equality, Ghana is unlikely to achieve the desired 30% representation of women in Parliament by 2025.
She called for the bill to be signed into law and for a dedicated committee to monitor its implementation, particularly in recruitment processes across various sectors.
Source:expressnewsghana.com