Ghana’s Education Minister and a Member of Parliament for Tamale South Haruna Iddrisu, has made a compelling call for a Constitutional amendment to ensure more women have a fair shot at leadership roles, including seats in Parliament. Speaking on International Women’s Day, Alhaji Iddrisu acknowledged the progress made with the recent passage of the affirmative action bill, but emphasized that it doesn’t address the constitutional gap on women’s representation.
Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, while providing for elections to Parliament, doesn’t specify the number of women who should be represented ¹This means women must go through the same rigorous campaign and election process as men, often facing significant barriers. To achieve a more balanced Parliament, Hon. Iddrisu proposes an amendment allowing the president to appoint additional women to Parliament after elections.
The Education Minister drew inspiration from East Africa, where constitutional provisions have led to significant progress in women’s representation. Ghana has its own trailblazers, including first female Vice President H.E. Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, and Joyce Bamford-Addo, whose contributions continue to inspire efforts to enhance gender inclusion in governance.
As Ghana continues to strive for greater gender equality, Alhaji Iddrisu’s call for a Constitutional amendment marks a crucial step towards creating a more inclusive and representative Parliament.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
