Akufo-Addo’s 1st running mate choice was a woman – Oppong Nkrumah

Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has said contrary to trolls that President Nana Akufo-Addo has not done enough to amplify women, his track record shows the contrary.

In an article, Mr Oppong Nkrumah recalled, for instance, that Mr Akufo-Addo’s first choice of a running mate when he first decided to run for president in 2008, was a woman.

“It is an open secret that in 2008, his first choice for running mate was a woman”, Mr Oppong Nkrumah said.

That woman, according to the president's cousin, Mr Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, is the current Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mrs Alima Mahama.

Read Mr Oppong Nkrumah's full article below:

He has appointed more women than any other president in our nation’s history. And, his actions can be seen where it matters most; empowering the girl-child through education to be able to compete on equal terms, at least, by preparing them for the future.

President Akufo-Addo’s recent comment that there hasn’t been enough dynamism in the gender parity agenda has generated a lot of public debate.

What appears missing in the debate, however, is whether or not what he is saying is the reality.

Some have taken issue with the President’s position on the matter and have suggested that President Akufo-Addo ought to have repeated the latest buzzword of feminists: ‘Women must be amplified.”

Whether the debate in the western world is one about “amplification” rather than “empowerment” is a debate that may not necessarily put in a classroom the Ghanaian girl-child whose parents have to choose between her brother and her, as to which of the two, should their parents spend the money they don’t have, to put through secondary education.

President Akufo-Addo chose the path of the hard truth, which may sound unpopular to feminists but remains a fact; that in the gender parity journey, we could do with a lot more dynamism where it matters most.

As the President postulated, talking up the subject and campaigning for same are all laudable.

However, one critical area remains unattended to; getting enough women around the decision-making table to participate in decision-making at the highest of levels.

At least, three key Cabinet positions of his government are held by women: attorney general, foreign affairs and local government [ministries].

He made the point that if women don’t, for instance, put themselves up to be elected as candidates, then it is difficult to have a majority of them as ministers because, at least, half of his ministers, per the Constitution, must come from the legislature.

Political parties in Ghana go as far as reducing the filing fees for women to encourage greater participation.

This is what the President describes as women getting hold of the levers of power and decision-making.

President Akufo-Addo has always been a firm believer that the path to effecting any change lies in getting hold of political power.

That is why for decades, he has been involved in the hurly burly of politics, seeking power to bring about the change he desires.

This has come at great cost to him over the years. But he believes that without power, only marginal impact can be made.

He, therefore, argues that advocates must also channel their energies toward getting women to take hold of the levers of power and decision-making.

This is where he argues the dynamism required has not been enough.

Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, in partnership with the Institute of Local Government Studies, has recently published an analysis titled: “A Gender Analysis of Political Appointments in Ghana since Independence”, which makes interesting reading. In the 2016 election, for example, only 137 females contested parliamentary positions out of the 1,258 candidates for the 275 seats.

The 52% of women in Ghana, in the opinion of Mr President, must count for something here. Again, out of the 137, only 35 won seats.

In 2012, only 133 women contested as against 1,332 men.

The analysis suggests that on the average, women representation in leadership positions in Ghana has hovered around 12% across various administrations since independence.

The President’s argument is that there needs to be more dynamism here in getting more women to put themselves up for office where it matters most.

For his Part, Akufo-Addo has done a lot to amplify and empower women.

He continues to believe in pushing women forward as much as possible.

His argument is that what is needed next is to get increased dynamism that gets more women to step forward even when not pushed.

It is an open secret that in 2008, his first choice for running mate was a woman. In the 2012 NPP parliamentary primaries, he argued that sitting female MPs should be protected while lowering costs for women aspirants.

On his watch, the gender question has significantly improved.

He has appointed the first female Chief of Staff, ensured that the positions of Chief Justice and Cabinet Secretary are filled by competent women. 36 of his MMDCEs as well as several top executives of State-owned Enterprises are now women.

The records show that President Akufo-Addo has appointed the highest number of women as ministers in the 4th Republic.

J. J. Rawlings First term = 15% 2nd term = 13. 58%

J. A. Kufuor 2 terms = 11.43%

J. E. A Mills First Term = 18.35

John Mahama First Term = 17.86.

Nana Akufo-Addo First Term = 19.24%

President Akufo-Addo achieved this despite a constitutional provision that requires the appointment of 50% of ministers from Parliament with few female representation.

Akufo-Addo’s call for increased dynamism will add a new layer to what he has done personally already and, therefore, must be supported.

President Akufo-Addo is the first to set up a specific fund to support women entrepreneurs with disability.

Work is ongoing on an Affirmative Action Bill as well as key amendments to the Interstate Succession Law to further empower women and eliminate discrimination against them.

He is not against empowerment and not against amplification.

He, more than many, has demonstrated his commitment to both.

His call is to add a third and, perhaps, most important layer; increased dynamism by women themselves so that that 52% statistic will count where it matters most.

By: Kojo Oppong Nkrumah

Minister of Information and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ofoase-Ayirebi constituency