Stop crying and get to work – Ayorkor Botchwey slams Akufo-Addo’s critics

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has sternly urged critics of President Nana Akufo-Addo to make viable contributions to improve the role of women in the country instead of brooding heavily on his comments.

President Akufo-Addo at the Women Deliver Conference argued that; “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. We are talking about decisions, not wishes and hopes, we are talking about decisions that are going to make the difference.”

The president, after his comment, has been subjected to several disparaging remarks by some feminists and women’s rights advocates in the country.

But speaking at the Ministers Press briefing Friday, June 7, 2019, the Foreign Affairs Minister urged such advocates and feminists to rather rally behind the president in finding viable policies to ‘open doors’ for women in the country.

According to her the president’s comment which has been branded as unfortunate and a dent on the country’s international image was a call to action for feminists and women’s rights advocates.

“...The president calls us to action and we’re all over the place to score political points, cheap political points?” She questioned.

The Foreign Minister also urged advocates who said they cried after listening to the president’s comments to face reality and come to terms with the fact that the president spoke nothing but the truth and was very blatant about it.

“...People say they cried? They cried because they felt ashamed that they had not acted. Not because of what he said, they should be truthful to themselves.”

She added that “the president’s comment was to encourage us, for us to be vigorous on our pursuit in ensuring that we take our proper place in society…Feminism is not about being over-bearing or insulting, neither is it about advocating, it puts people off, so for those who are crying, stop crying and get to work.”