Accra, Jan. 9 GNA - The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Ghana on Friday congratulated Mrs Justice Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo on her election as the Speaker of the Fifth Parliament of Ghana.

In a statement signed by Ms Ursula Owusu for the President, FIDA-Ghana said the association was thrilled to see that the retired Supreme Court Judge had been elected as the first woman in Ghana's history and seventh in Africa to take up that office.

The statement said she joined a selected group of just over thirty female speakers of Parliament currently in office around the world including Gambia, Swaziland, South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Rwanda. The statement said FIDA-Ghana considered her appointment as an important and greater representation of women in decision-making positions in Parliament, given the current woefully low number of female Parliamentarians. Justice Bamford-Addo's leadership of the House would serve in no small measure to make up the deficit. "FIDA-Ghana also believes that this trend must continue in order to provide a yardstick for increased female participation in decision -making, as recognized by the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action." "We are convinced that with her track record of justice, fairness, and promotion of women's rights, she will bring her immense experience and expertise to bear on her current position as Speaker to enhance the status of women in this country," it added.

The statement also commended both sides of the House for taking the historic step of unanimously appointing a woman to the distinguished position and was hopeful that it was a first step towards approving the appointment of more women into executive positions in government to ensure that gender parity in the decision-making positions was achieved.