Successive Parliaments Have Failed Ghanaian Women Says Minority Leader

The minority leader in Parliament, Mr. Haruna Iddrissu has admitted that successive parliaments hasn’t done enough to ensure the Affirmative Action Bill is passed into law.

“I should concede that successive parliament have failed the women of Ghana and by failing to do what is right for Ghanaian women since the promulgation of the 1992 constitution,” Mr. Iddrissu said.

He made this pronouncement during a Walk for the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill on Saturday in Tamale.

The Walk which started from the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium took to some principal streets of Tamale with the  aim of raising awareness on the Affirmative Action Bill while calling on government to fast track the passage of the bill to accelerate the development of women in Ghana.

The minority leader who doubles as member of Parliament for Tamale South constituency, however assured the Civil Society Organisations, women groups and students from various senior high schools of his unflinching support to get the Affirmative Action Bill passed into law.

“On the matter of Affirmative Action, fair to Professor Mike Oquaye, he has referred it to leadership to consider and examine it and ensure that it is passed into law. So my support or committed to the passage of the bill is a given”, the minority leader assured.

• Even though the bill has been in Parliament for 13 years since the process begun, the minority leader claimed there was a collective commitment from both the majority and the minority in parliament to commit to the passage of an Affirmative Action Bill which he believes will increase women’s participation in decision making, women’s involvement in public service and to increase the number of women in elected office.

But he was quick to add that “On the specific matter of women in Parliament, it will require an amendment to the 1992 constitution if we are to live the spirit and letter of the constitution”.

Mr. Iddrisu further stated that anybody who appreciates the contribution of women to national development will necessarily commit to an affirmative action policy and back with legislation.

The Walk for the Passage of the Affirmative Action Bill was organized by the Civil Society Organisations  (CSOs) Cluster on Decentralization and Citizens’ Participation and supported by STAR-GHANA.