Nine out of ten women have been cleared to contest the 25th April 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary Primaries of the New Patriotic Party.
Those cleared are Ms. Mercy Adu-Gyamfi, incumbent MP for Akwatia, Mrs. Abena Osei Asare, Deputy Minister of Finance and Incumbent MP for Atiwa East, Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah Adjei, incumbent MP for Akuapim North, Mrs. Gifty Twum Ampofo, and incumbent MP for Abuakwa North and Deputy Minister for Education.
The rest are Ms. Gifty Klenam Kekeli, and former MP for Lower West Akim and former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC), Mrs. Joyce Opoku Boateng, a legal practitioner, for Nkawkaw constituency, Ms. Afua Kyerewa Nyantakyi, for Nsawam Adoagyiri, Ms. Josephine Awuku Ansa, and Ms. Adwoa Aseidua both contesting for the Ayensuano seat, Nana Serwa Acheampong, contesting in Abuakwa North.
The only female disqualified is Ms. Gloria Ofori Boadu, a Legal Practitioner who was Contesting for Abuakwa South.
Statistics from the population and housing census in 2010 put Ghana’s female population at 51%.
Currently, there are 36 women in Ghana’s parliament and this represents 12.75 percent from both the majority and minority sides, a clear short of the 30 percent representation set by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
Out of the number, 23 are representing NPP and 13 for NDC.
The figure is an increase of 7, as against the election 2012 figure of 29, where 133 women contested 102 parliamentary seats.
The First Parliament of the Fourth Republic had 16 women out of the 200 MPs, and the Second, Third and Fourth parliaments saw a slight increase in the number of female parliamentarians.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Kofi Atakora
