The Member of Parliament for Krachi West and Chairperson of the Gender and Social Protection Committee in Parliament, Helen Adjoa Ntoso, has expressed concerns about Ghana’s inability to meet the United Nations’ (UN) target of 30% female representation in Parliament by 2025.

According to her, the lack of a quota system, slow progress towards gender parity, and net loss in the recent parliamentary primaries of the two major political parties, the National Democratic Congress, (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party, (NPP), are some major obstacles hindering this goal.

She bemoaned the slow progress towards gender parity in Parliament, noting that the current female representation stands at just 14%.

“If we are still at 14%, then I don’t know. It means that we are moving at a snail’s pace," she stated.

Helen Ntoso noted that the recent parliamentary primaries of the two major political parties in the country - the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), recorded a decline in female candidates, with many being replaced by men.

She further explained that while there was a small gain in the Oti Region, where one woman replaced a male candidate, overall, there was a net loss in female representation.

“So, there’s a deficit of two,” she noted, expressing concern about the ability to even reach 20% female representation in the next Parliament.

According to her, women face more challenges than men in elections, a situation that makes it even more difficult to increase their numbers in Parliament.

Touching on Ghana’s global standing, she said that the country ranks 147th out of 193 countries in terms of women’s representation in Parliament, a position she finds disappointing.

She also stressed the need for gender parity not only through elected positions but also through appointments, a commitment she says is part of the agenda of former President John Dramani Mahama should he win power.

The Member of Parliament for Krachi West also expressed worry over the lack of genuine support for female candidates, even from fellow women, citing her own experience during the 2020 elections when another female politician from the opposing party campaigned against her.

JKB/AE

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