The ladies wing of the Electoral Commission (EC), with the support of their male counterparts, has condemned the insulting statement by Mr Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament of Assin North Constituency against the Commission’s Chairperson.

A statement signed by Abigail Amponsah Nutakor, the Head of Gender and Disability at the EC, and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Friday, said: “We add our voice to the numerous calls by well-meaning Ghanaians for Mr Kennedy Agyapong to retract and apologise to the Chairperson, Mrs Charlotte Osei and the Commission as a whole.”

“Most Women over the years have suffered such humiliation and harassment from people who despise women being at the helm of affairs. This is undesirable,” it said.

It noted that five out of the seven members of the Commission are competent, hardworking, selfless and intelligent women helping to steer the affairs of the Electoral Commission towards deepening Ghana’s democracy and promoting good governance.

“They are equally competent females who serve the Commission as Regional Directors, Deputy Regional Directors, Sectional and Unit Heads and District Electoral Officers. All these women attained their positions by dint of hard work and on merit,’ it said.

“It is, therefore, unfortunate for a Member of Parliament to make such an unguarded statement in an era where qualified women are being encouraged and motivated to take up sensitive leadership positions such as ours.

“We wish to state that a successful election is a shared responsibility of all stakeholders,” it added.

It said people had every right to make submissions, suggestions and raise concerns about the electoral process to ensure its success; however, we plead with the public that discussions about the Commission should be civil, devoid of insults, and not falsehood and incitement against the Electoral Commission and its officials.

“Women are peace builders and peace makers who do not fight. And we don’t need to,” the statement said.