The People’s National Convention (PNC) has said it would rally women in Ghana to boycott the 2024 elections if the Affirmative Action Bill is not passed before December this year.
This, according to the party is to ensure women participation in decision making is enhanced.
The statement is contained in a release issued by the party to congratulate the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) for organising a successful parliamentary primaries Saturday, January 27, 2024.
The Janet Asana Nablah-signed statement expressed dissatisfaction with the number of incumbent female Members of Parliament who lost their candidature in the polls, saying it could potentially lead to a decreased representation of women in governance.
The PNC has accused the two political parties with representation in Parliament for taking women for granted and has asked that all women in the country stand and demonstrate for their rights.
“Both the NPP and the NDC, as political parties represented in Parliament, have taken the women of Ghana for granted. We appeal to all women in Ghana, including female politicians, food sellers, market women, women in farming, and those in the private and public sectors, to stand up and demonstrate for their rights,” portions of the statement contained.
The PNC cited African countries like South Africa, Tanzania and Rwanda as having passed affirmative action laws, “so it is puzzling why Ghana has not yet done so.”
“We call on Civil Society Organizations, the Media, Academia, Religious leaders and Experts to shift their focus from NPP and NDC politics and instead exert pressure on these two political parties to pass the Affirmative Action Bill into law, in order to ensure female participation in Ghana’s politics.”
It said “it is disappointing that the NPP did not implement measures to protect female parliamentarians in this election.”
“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 added.
