The People’s National Convention (PNC) has expressed grave concerns over the declining number of female incumbent Members of Parliament (MPs) following the recent parliamentary primaries in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) safe seat zones.
The party fears that this trend might lead to reduced female representation in the upcoming 2024 general elections.
The PNC criticized the NPP for not implementing protective measures for female MPs during the internal elections.
“It is disappointing that the NPP did not implement measures to protect female parliamentarians in this election,” the statement read.
The party also stressed Ghana’s lag in protecting women’s rights and promoting their participation in politics, especially when compared to other African nations like South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania, which have already passed similar affirmative action laws.
Referencing religious teachings, the PNC emphasized the equal importance of men and women in societal progress.
“The creation of both Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden shows that God intended for both men and women to contribute to progress and protect His creation. Therefore, it is disheartening to see women being marginalized in politics,” the statement continued.
The PNC pointed out the constitutional provisions against gender discrimination and the mandate for parliament to address inequalities.
It expressed concern over the apparent inaction in passing the Affirmative Action Bill and recalled the words of the UN Secretary-General during the 2018 International Women’s Day celebration in New York, where he urged women to fight for their rights using legal means.
The PNC urged women in Ghana to consider demonstrations and boycotts, including potentially boycotting the 2024 elections, if the Affirmative Action Bill is not enacted before then.
The party criticized both the NPP and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for taking women for granted and called upon women from various sectors to stand up for their rights.
The PNC also appealed to Civil Society Organizations, the Media, Academia, Religious leaders, and Experts to shift their focus and pressure the NPP and NDC to pass the Affirmative Action Bill.
“Ghana cannot achieve its full potential for development until the 50.7 per cent of females are fully integrated into our political mainstream,” the party stated.
The party promised that upon assuming office, a future PNC government would pass the Affirmative Action Bill within six months and transform the Ministry of Gender into a non-political ministry, giving gender-based institutions the power to appoint the head of the ministry.