President Akufo Addo's commitment to women's empowerment is not in doubt | Policy

He has appointed more women than any other president in the history of our country. And we can see where it matters most, giving girls, through education, the means to compete on an equal footing, at least by preparing them for the future.

President Akufo-Addo's recent comment that the gender program has not been sufficiently dynamic has sparked much public debate.

What seems to be missing in the debate, however, is whether what he says is reality or not.

Some disputed the president's position on the matter and suggested that President Akufo-Addo should have repeated the last feminist rhetoric: "Women must be amplified".

That the debate in the Western world is about "amplification" rather than "empowerment" is a debate that does not necessarily place the Ghanaian girl whose parents have to choose between her brother and her -even. their parents are spending money that they do not have to spend during their high school years.

President Akufo-Addo has chosen the path of hard truth that may seem unpopular to feminists but remains a fact; that in the course of the gender parity, we could do with much more dynamism where it counts the most.

As the president postulated, talking about the subject and campaigning for the same subject are all commendable.

However, a critical area remains unattended; gather enough women around the decision table to participate in decision-making at the highest level.

At least three key positions in her government are held by women: Attorney General, Foreign Affairs and Local Government.

He emphasized that if, for example, women did not run for election, it would be difficult to have a majority of them as ministers, since at least half of its ministers, according to the Constitution, must come from the legislature.

Political parties in Ghana are going to reduce filing fees for women to encourage greater participation.

This is what the president describes as women who seize the levers of power and decision-making.

President Akufo-Addo has always been firmly convinced that any change is possible only if one wants to seize political power.

That is why, for decades, he has been involved in the turmoil of politics seeking the power to bring about the desired change.

It has cost him dearly over the years. But he believes that without power, only a marginal impact can be created.

It therefore argues that advocates must also mobilize their energies to get women to seize the levers of power and decision-making.

It is there that he maintains that the required dynamism has not been sufficient.

The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, in partnership with the Institute of Local Government Studies, recently published an badysis entitled "Gender-Based Analysis of Political Appointments in Ghana since Independence", which is interesting to read. In the 2016 election, for example, only 137 women contested parliamentary positions on the 1258 candidates for 275 seats.

The 52% of women in Ghana feel, in the opinion of the President, something here. Again on the 137, only 35 seats were won.

In 2012, only 133 women clashed against 1332 men.

The badysis suggests that on average, women's representation in management positions in Ghana has hovered around 12% in various jurisdictions since independence.

The president's argument is that more energy is needed to get more women to run for office where it matters most.

Akufo-Addo did a lot to boost and empower women.

He continues to believe that we must push women as much as possible.

His argument is that what is needed next, is getting increased dynamism allowing more women to take a step forward, even if they are not pushed.

It is common knowledge that in 2008, her first choice as a vice presidential candidate was a woman. In the parliamentary primaries of the 2012 nuclear power plant, he argued that serving women parliamentarians should be protected while reducing costs for aspiring women.

Under his leadership, the gender issue has improved significantly.

He appointed the first female chief of staff and ensured that the positions of chief justice and cabinet secretary were filled by competent women. Thirty-six of its MMDCEs and several senior executives of state-owned companies are now women.

The archives show that President Akufo-Addo has appointed the largest number of women to the post of minister of the 4th Republic.

J. J Rawlings
First term = 15%
2nd term = 13. 58%

J. To Kufuor
2 terms = 11.43%

J. E. A Mills
First term = 18.35

John Mahama
First term = 17.86.

Nana Akufo Addo
First term = 19.24%

President Akufo-Addo succeeded despite a constitutional provision requiring the appointment of 50 ministers to Parliament with little female representation.

Akufo-Addo's call for increased dynamism will add a new layer to what he has already done personally and therefore needs to be taken care of.

President Akufo-Addo is the first to create a specific fund to support women entrepreneurs with disabilities.

A Positive Action Bill and essential amendments to the State Succession Act are being drafted to strengthen women's power and eliminate discrimination against them. .

It is not against empowerment nor against amplification.
He has more than demonstrated his commitment to both.

Her call is to add a third layer, perhaps the most important: the increased dynamism of the women themselves, so that this statistic of 52% will count where it matters most.