KEYNOTE ADDRESS
By Dr Otiko Afisah Djaba
16th October 2024
At
Public Forum on Women’s Participation and Representation in Governance in Ghana
THEME: ENHANCING WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION IN POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE IN GHANA: The Role of Media and Other Stakeholders
Ladies and Gentlemen
Esteemed Guests
Members of the Media
Fellow Advocates for Women’s Empowerment and Emancipation
Mahatma Ghandi said “Be the change you want to see in the world”. Are you that change agent for women? Good morning. It gives me enormous pleasure today that we have gathered here to address a critical national issue that has been bothering us since independence and has far-reaching implications for the development of women and Ghana’s democracy: Enhancing Women’s Participation and Representation in Politics and Governance – The Role of the Media and other Stakeholders. What does this mean to a Ghanaian today? What does it even mean to be a Ghanaian woman today in rural or urban Ghana? Are we happy about the role, participation and representation of women in Ghana and the role of the media and other stakeholders so far? By the end of this program, I hope these questions will be answered. It has been a long and arduous journey for women but I see a new dawn with the passage of the Affirmative Action Act and I believe that we will get it right so that it can be well with women. Because, enhancing women’s participation and representation are not only human rights, they are imperative for the development of Ghana. Women’s political participation is pivotal to achieving the Ghanaian dream and democracy. We face a future full of possibilities based on how we enhance women’s participation and representation in politics and governance. Yes, the right of women to participate in political life is guaranteed by our Constitution but still not realized. This should not discourage us but challenge us to endeavour to right the many years of wrongs against girls and women. I can see a bright new day and I implore those of us privileged to be alive today to breathe and give life into Article 17(1) and (2) of the 1992 Constitution; which guarantee gender equality and freedom of women and men, girls and boys from discrimination. It is time to make this right a reality.
To be honest, women’s participation and representation has seen some increment over the years, but despite this progress, they are still woefully under-represented in government and political leadership. According to statistics, women occupy only 14% of parliamentary seats and less than 4% at the local governance level. Only 40 women are parliamentarians out of 275 members. Elected women at the local Assembly level in 2019 were only 234 out of 90 candidates. In Yilo Krobo where the Henry Djaba Memorial Foundation operates, out of 49 Assembly members only 3 are women (1.8%). The minimal numbers of women ministers, cabinet members, on the Boards, Government appointees as CEO’s and MMDCE’s smacks of tokenism and decoration. These statistics are just a mere dent. They do not speak well of us as the black star of Africa, the small nation that first achieved independence in South Saharan Africa and the beacon of democracy. What kind of lopsided democracy is this, where in terms of numbers of women, the majority are now the minority in leadership and decision-making roles? These figures merely suggest the thought – ‘Let’s put a few women there and clap for ourselves’. The representation is just Not good enough. We can do better, if not for nothing else, let’s do it to up hold our democratic credentials as the beacon of democracy. This distinct disparity perpetuates inequality, hinders inclusive decision-making and undermines democratic governance. Ghana cannot afford to continue this injustice. We seriously need not only a paradigm shift that brings real equality, but a cultural shift, attitudinal shift and a power shift NOW. Women too can handle power. So women must be represented at all levels of decision making. We each must take action to promote opportunities for women’s empowerment and fulfillment of their rights and inspire meaningful change to ensure gender equality in Ghana’s politics and governance in our communities. I dare and challenge you to leave the right footprints along this journey.
The development of a nation is serious business. So, we do ourselves a huge disservice by allowing the many various barriers mitigating against women and girls to continue. Let’s break the structural, psychological, cultural and traditional barriers with the effective Implementation of the Affirmative Action Act and ensure its full enforcement.
The media as the 4th estate plays the very important role in shaping public opinion and influencing policy. The media must be bold, be more straight forward and aggressive in putting the spotlight on women’s increased participation and representation. What are you afraid of? When it comes to women’s participation some media personnel are so lackadaisical, lukewarm and unserious. Women’s issues are not a joking matter. There are no limits just because one is a woman. 2024 is a huge opportunity for the media to create humongous awareness across the length and breadth of Ghana. The media must promote gender-sensitive information and strategies for reforms, promote gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment. To promote women’s participation, the media should get off their backsides and provide balanced representation during their reportage in print, political radio and television discussions and online without fear but with favour for women. It’s called positive discrimination. They must increase the spotlight on women’s issues and concerns as they have done with ‘galamsey’, challenge stereotypes and biases and amplify the voices of women and girls through inclusive reporting to a crescendo. The media are extremely influential in determining issues for national debate, so I challenge you to make enhancing women’s participation and representation in politics and governance a burning issue. Media, I am charging you on behalf of Ghana to go the extra mile, go beyond the talk, the walks, the protests and take action to make a huge difference and impact on women’s enhancement in participation and representation in politics and governance.
The role of other stakeholders cannot be over-stated. Government is the key stakeholder, who must ensure the effective implementation of policies and quotas to increase women’s representation with political will and might. Government oversight, monitoring and evaluation must be on point. The Ministry of Information must provide leadership, for Information Services and NCCE to disseminate the necessary information to promote this cause. Women parliamentary caucuses must be supported to be vibrant in channeling women’s interests and concerns. The 40 many in Parliament must be more vibrant, visible, vocal and be good examples of leadership. Government must also increase the number of women appointments to Boards, ambassadorial positions, public institutions, MMDCEs and Assemblies. Civil Society Organisations must work harder to revive and renew interest, research, mobilize support, build capacity, provide support mechanisms and advocate more for the enforcement of women’s rights. CSO’s must work with political parties and communities to create a more enabling environment for women to be accepted as leaders and to win. Political Parties are the key institution for recruiting, selecting candidates, nurturing, promoting and increasing women’s participation and they must usher in changes for this enhancement. They are the most direct and primary source from where women can access elected office and political leadership. They should be ashamed about the abysmal under-representation in Parliament. Women of Ghana have long suffered in campaigns in supporting roles for men to gain leadership positions whilst they languish in underrepresented positions of power. Why should women’s participation in political parties remain well below that of men, when they do equally well if not more? Political Parties need to change and or amend their policies, practices, values and manifestoes, integrate gender cross-cutting to ensure women’s equal participation and representation. Political Parties must take it like the world cup and make it their main concern and responsibility to promote inclusive candidate selection, provide training, financing, campaigning and mentorship of female candidates. They must develop meaningful and effective strategies to increase women’s participation and representation in leadership positions. They must strengthen the Women’s Wings financially to identify and recruit new faces of youthful and experienced women. Political Parties must recognize that these women in the Women’s Wings are not just there to sing songs, cook, entertain their whims and caprices (for want of a better phrase) but Politicians. They should recognize them as Politicians. Traditional authorities, Faith Based Organizations, families and individuals must identify, encourage, sponsor and support women to pursue political careers. Patriotism appears lost in Ghana, it should be an inherent part of us, worn like our clothing and all stake holders should preach it, imbibe it in our children and live it. The pretence and superficial efforts for gender equality and increasing representation must stop and be a thing of the past if we are patriotic.
The role of the other key stakeholder I want to throw light on are the girls and women themselves. Your responsibility is to know your rights and exercise them because knowledge and freedom brings in a new dawn of power. Power to women! Women, I need you to believe in yourselves and believe that women must change this country for the better. Seize the opportunities for education to develop yourselves and never allow yourself to be discriminated against, know and understand your rights and responsibilities, set the pace, have integrity and values and lead by good example. Be the shining light, be on top of your area of interest, business or profession. Be courageous enough to stand up, speak out and be counted. Rejoice in your femininity because it is a great blessing to be born female. Network with other women, support each other and provide a support mechanism and safety nets. Please, learn to liberate yourself economically, physiologically, physically, politically and spiritually. Be passionate, but passion alone is not enough. Beyond the passion work harder than everyone else, shelf the frustrations, long suffering years of pain and complaints to be a good leader. Bring up your sons and daughters to be gender sensitive and inspire your husbands or male partners to do same. Live the gender talk in your homes and communities. You have the potential to be a great leader at whatever you do, just believe in yourself. Belief is fulfilling a prophecy, for your beliefs determine your behavior and actions. Know your worth, and don’t feel entitled. Women, value yourself because women matter. You are a genius, think positive thoughts and understand that every set back or challenge carries greater opportunity. For it’s not how you fall but how you get up, learn from that fall and manage your forward moves and actions. Fear is not your portion, women and daughters of Ghana. No more shall a woman sit back and be abused, sidelined, disrespected or discriminated against in silence. Speak out! Why are women afraid to participate in politics and leadership? Why should you allow anyone to undermine you? Be strong to show great leadership wherever you are. Ghana needs strong women and strong women’s voices. Please DON’T allow anyone to steal your shine.
How do we enhance women’s participation and representation? Cease paying lip-service to enhancing women’s participation. For they offer no real qualitative influence, can’t produce immediate benefits of appreciable increment in representation. Also, stop removing women from viable positions and support them to win primaries in the strongholds of Political Parties instead of unwinnable orphan constituencies. Real change can only come with the cooperation of all the stakeholders, a variety of actors from across the various developmental sectors working collectively with one goal and one purpose to enhance women’s participation. We must become more radical and revolutionize Ghana with women. We must ‘get out of the boat and walk on water’ to increase girls and women’s access to education, training, capacity building and resources, implement the AA Act effectively with stringent adherence to enforcement, collectively foster inclusive and supportive networks for women politicians and address violence against women in politics. Yes, we can! We must identify targeted interventions like internal party reorganisation, specific actions before electoral cycles, during and post electoral periods. We must remove the fear of mean that achieving the goal of increasing representation of women in politics will mean fewer men in politics. Galvanize party support for women and men to vote for their women candidates, placing women in safe seats and canvassing for votes for them. When a woman is defeated in elections by a man, it means one less woman in Parliament or the Assembly. We must mobilize women and men to campaign and canvass for votes for women in political leadership. Government and duty bearers must implement the HeForShe initiative that I launched in 2018 to cultivate strategic alliances with men and boys as champions of the cause of girls and women. Indeed, to advance democratic governance will require creativity, ingenuity, tolerance, determination and political will. Public perceptions must be altered about women in leadership positions. Traditional leaders must take the lead in supporting and promoting the enhancement of women’s participation and representation in all our communities by putting an end to negative cultural and traditional practices. We must set national strategic targets with timelines for participation and representation.
I seize this opportunity to make a Call to Action to Develop media guidelines for inclusive reporting, Establish mentorship programs for female politicians, Raise funds for women in politics, Advocate for abolishment of negative cultural and traditional practices against women and girls, as well as Advocate for policy reforms, campaign for change of attitudes towards women and support women’s empowerment initiatives.
Let this documentary and women’s forum by Media Foundation for West Africa be a celebration of our commitment and rededication of our lives, our energies, fortunes and patriotism to develop a greater Ghana with women. We thank MFWA for this organisation. Change and transformation are easier said than done. But, it’s up to all of us to make it work so that we can make the most of it. Women are the rock of the home, the family, the society and must not be belittled in politics or governance. Media, Disrupt the status quo to increase and improve women’s participation and representation in Ghana’s politics and governance. Because it is a national issue that requires immediate and urgent collective effort and attention. In addition, the media and all other stakeholders must work harder than ever to ensure an enabling environment for this enhancement and never stop until we achieve gender equality and equity. Let us empower women’s voices, challenge the status quo, break the barriers and glass ceilings and build a more inclusive and equitable Ghana. Let’s understand that the passage of the AA Bill is an amazing moment with incredible possibilities. Let’s believe that Ghana will be a better and greater country with women in leadership and at the center.
May God bless Ghana, our democracy, women and all who call it home.
Thank you.