Kintampo South MP slams Akufo-Addo over anti-feminist comment

The Member of Parliament for Kintampo South in the Bono East Region, Hon. Felicia Adjei has descended heavily on President Akufo-Addo over his controversial comments against women in Ghana at a forum in Canada.

Her comment follows a statement made by President Akufo-Addo, who said Ghanaian women are not dynamic enough to be part of national decision-making tables.

The President in his contribution at the Conference in Canada, said he is yet to see dynamism in Ghanaian women.

“We are not seeing enough dynamism and activism on the part of those who are seeking. I am talking about dynamism where it matters…electing people to Parliament, controlling political parties because they are the instruments by which our societies make decisions,” he said.

The President’s comments have been heavily criticised by some Ghanaian women local and abroad who felt jilted.

In a statement signed by the Kintampo South MP, she described President Akufo-Addo's comments as most unfortunate.

According to her, the President's comments are one of the very low moments in the history of Ghana.

"I have taken time to carefully watch and ardently listen to the submissions by all participants especially my president, His Excellency William Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and I must state emphatically that it was disappointing and one of the very low moments in Ghana’s history in our bid to ensure women are considered equal partners in the development process of our dear nation", the statement opined.

Hon. Felicia Adjei who is a Member of Gender Committee in Parliament stated that President Akufo-Addo failed to use the Golden opportunity given to him to spell out what steps he has intended to adopt to advance the course of Ghanaian women.

"As a woman, a mother, and a daughter I sincerely think our president failed to cease the golden opportunity handed him to spell out what steps he as president intend to adopt if he hasn’t done anything yet to advance women’s cause but instead, it was a blame game to lay the blame at the door of women, as not showing enough activism and dynamism to warrant a seat at the decision making table", she worried.

She emphasized "...That assertion alone by the president confirms that conditions are being placed in the way of women before they can earn a call, which is most unfortunate".

She continued, "In summary, our president’s suggestion on the international stage was that the over 52% Ghanaian women have not done enough to warrant a call into decision making process at a time when as a woman, I thought we have done enough and demonstrated our capacity and capability to do well wherever we are placed to advance our nation’s development."

Below is the full statement

PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO'S COMMENTS ON WOMEN IN GHANA MOST UNFORTUNATE - HON FELICIA ADJEI

I have taken time to carefully watch and ardently listen to the submissions by all participants especially my president, His Excellency William Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and I must state emphatically that it was disappointing and one of the very low moments in Ghana’s history in our bid to ensure women are considered equal partners in the development process of our dear nation.

As a woman, a mother, and a daughter I sincerely think our president failed to cease the golden opportunity handed him to spell out what steps he as president intend to adopt if he hasn’t done anything yet to advance women’s cause but instead, it was a blame game to lay the blame at the door of women, as not showing enough activism and dynamism to warrant a seat at the decision making table. That assertion alone by the president confirms that conditions are being placed in the way of women before they can earn a call, which is most unfortunate.

In summary, our president’s suggestion on the international stage was that the over 52% Ghanaian women have not done enough to warrant a call into decision making process at a time when as a woman, I thought we have done enough and demonstrated our capacity and capability to do well wherever we are placed to advance our nation’s development.

As a member of the Gender committee of the parliament of Ghana I felt so scandalized listening to my president make those submissions when the very #He4She campaign he mentioned of with inaccurate facts on the recruitment of some over 5000 young men remains a move we are seriously considering for the good of Ghana. One would have expected that if our president felt that women haven’t done enough to warrant a call then, he will at least roll out accurate figures to the world so as to challenge us and spur us on but instead he went ahead to even state that some over 30% women are in his government which also happens to be untrue.

It is my firm conviction that the president will revise his notes and reconsider his perceived impression about women in Ghana because he has himself at least appointed some women into his government which is a good course and still leaves more room for improvement so we, together, achieve the 40% target. Women are not calling for a special quota but rather the stumbling blocks be removed in our way.

As a citizen, I can only pray that the president comes out to give further, proper, adequate and convincing clarity to his submission though we believe we all listened carefully to all what he said.

To all the women both young and old out there, do not despair but remain steadfast and remember #WomenDeliver

Signed!

Hon Felicia Adjei

MP, Kintampo South (Member, Gender Committee)