ActionAid Ghana has bemoaned the 20 per cent representation of women in the appointments of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo so far.
After nominating 36 persons for ministerial appointments and an additional 10 to head Ghana’s regions, only nine are women.
In commending the competence of the persons nominated, ActionAid Ghana says more women should have been nominated.
But it claims it is not too late as deputies are yet to be named.
“We were expecting to see more women appointments to ensure some gender parity,” said ActionAid Ghana’s Deputy Country Director Saani Mohammed Yakubu.
“As a social justice organization working towards gender equality and women empowerment, our advocacy has targeted the negative manifestations of patriarchy and social inequalities in our communities.”
He observed: “We have found that low representation of women in social and political decision making structures is largely the result of our patriarchal system, which tends to disfavor and discourage women while promoting the interests of men.”
Ghana’s Parliament has 37 female members out of 275, a situation the civil society organization considers not encouraging.
“So far, the percentage of women in the current appointments falls short of the NPP’s campaign promise to give at least 30% of positions to women,” said Margaret Brew-Ward, Campaigns and Advocacy of ActionAid Ghana.
“With deputy ministers, district chief executives and heads of some key institutions yet to be named, we hope to see more women in the government. Promoting the cause of women is good for affirmative action, human development and economic prosperity.”
The civil society organisation, notwithstanding, commended the appointment of Akosua Frema Osei-Opare as the first female Chief of Staff as well as the other female appointees and members of the Seventh Parliament.
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