The Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has charged female members of Parliament to encourage and mentor young ladies and girls in their respective constituencies to ensure they grow up to become responsible citizens.
The Vice President was speaking when the female MPs paid a courtesy call on her at the seat of government.
The female Members of Parliament were from both sides of the House.
The MPs were elated because according to them, it’s a meeting that has been long overdue.
Their message was to formally congratulate the Vice President as the first female to have assumed that position in Ghana and also to pray with her.
Chairperson of the women caucus in Parliament, Comfort Doeyoe Cudjoe said Professor Naana Jane is as an inspiration and a testament that women can rise to the highest level of decision making and in governance.
She said the difference is being felt now with a woman as Vice President and indicated their resolve to stand with the Vice President at all times. ‘’There is a new spirit of compassion, empathy and balance in our national discourse’’.
The Ada MP promised the MPs’ support to help her succeed. ‘’We are here to congratulate you whole heartedly for this extraordinary achievement not just for yourself but for every woman and girls in Ghana. You have broken ceilings and lifted the aspiration of many.’’
The Vice Chairperson of the caucus, Patricia Appiagyei, equally promised to support the Vice President to deliver.
She called for the full implementation of the Affirmative Action law. ‘’It was only last year July that we passed the Affirmative Action Law, if we are here, we can’t just overlook it but rather draw your attention to the fact that the implementation of the law is very crucial. As a mother of this House, we are all your children and we are going to support you to ensure that you deliver…your delivery as a Vice President is one that would be exceptional.’’
The Vice President was grateful for the gesture and expressed that she was proud of the number of female MPs in the 9th Parliament, which currently stand at 40.
‘’We have done very well, 40 it’s not a joke and we all know what it takes first to put yourself out to sustain the momentum and to get there, ….and for me, the important point is, now that we are here, what are we doing with the opportunity, it cannot just be for us as individuals…it can be unto us as how we use that opportunity to bring others up.
She urged the MPs to pay attention to the growth of young girls in their constituencies.
‘’We can focus on our young ladies, they are enough in our constituencies and at the same time we are also looking at the young children, boys and girls, we are mothers to everyone and we have to be mindful of that.’’
The visit concluded with a renewed commitment to collaboration and shared vision to promote women empowerment and development in the country.
Here are more photos from the event:
