PRESS RELEASE FROM THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS HONOURABLE John Mahama Did Not Snub Wildaf & Ghanaian Women’s Groups

The National Democratic Congress has noted that subsequent to the WILDAF (Women in Law and Development in Africa) interaction with the Presidential Candidates that took place yesterday the 6th of November 2008, it has been alleged in some sections of the media that the Vice Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress snubbed Women by walking in and out of the debate. This is simply not true.

WILDAF invited the Presidential Candidates of the various political parties to a program entitled as the Women’s Dialogue on Election 2008, with the theme, “Vision of Political Parties for Women in the 2008 Elections and Beyond”. The National Democratic Congress, Convention People’s Party, New Patriotic Party, People’s National Convention and Democratic Freedom Party all sent their Vice-Presidential Candidates to represent them at the dialogue. It was previously agreed that there would be a ten minute presentation by each of the Vice Presidential Candidates and thereafter there would be a question and answer session.

The Vice Presidential Candidate of the NDC – Honourable John Mahama made the ten-minute presentation on behalf of the NDC outlining the party’s vision for ensuring the advancement of Ghanaian women, and did a great job. He recalled the achievements of the previous NDC Government for securing the advancement of women and went ahead to summarize what a new NDC Government would do. He also restated the Party’s commitment to ensuring that 40% of the NDC Government’s appointments to public office would be women, and that the party would work together with the promoters of the Women’s Manifesto to ensure that the concerns stated in the ten thematic areas of the Women’s Manifesto would be incorporated into an NDC Government’s affirmative action policy.

Hon. Mahama had previously informed WILDAF that he would be travelling out of the country the same evening to South Africa to attend the last session of the Pan African Parliament of which he is a Member, and also the Chairman of the West African Caucus. He therefore stated that he would leave the program at 5.30 p.m. but that the Communications Director of the Party – Ms. Hanna Tetteh, would take any questions that would have been addressed to him.

The Moderators of the event – Dr. Esther Ofei Aboagye and Ms Bernice Sam informed the audience of this development prior to Ms. Tetteh taking her place on the stage to respond to questions. Any information to the contrary is mischievous and is only intended to divert attention away from the fact that the performance of Dr. Bawumia the NPP’s Vice Presidential Candidate in the same program was abysmal. The National Democratic Congress wishes to place on record that it is committed to improving the lot of women in Ghana, and the NDC under the leadership of Professor John Evans Atta Mills will ensure a better life for Ghanaian women, in a much better Ghana.

Hanna S. Tetteh

Director of Communications

National Democratic Congress 7th November 2008.