Wednesday 21st August, 2019
Accra, Aug 21, GNA – An assembly member and
women’s activist, Ms. Comfort Darbo, is urging vigorous push by women groups
and other civil society organizations towards getting the Affirmative Action
Bill passed.
This, she said, had been urgent as moves
were being made to amend the 1992 Constitution to allow for the election of
Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), something that
could affect women’s representation at the lowest tier of the country’s
political administration.
She told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that
given the enormous challenges they faced, contesting elections – the gender
stereotypes, lack of financial resources psychological and traditional
barriers, “Affirmative Action, is what is going to provide a remedy”.
“We need to have a strong voice. The
interminable wait must end.”
Ms. Darbo said her expectation was that the
amendment of the Constitution, to allow political party participation in
district assembly and unit committee elections, would provide the opportunity for
the leadership of the parties to “encourage and support more of their women
members to be elected to the assemblies and unit committees”.
Ghanaians would decide through a referendum
the election of MMDCEs in the coming December.
There is broad support for the idea of
electing MMDCEs as that would mean devolution of more executive power and
resources to the local governments.
GNA
