We won’t accept less than 7 women MMDCEs in Northern region – NORSAAC

A non-governmental organization, NORSAAC, says it would not be acceptable, if less than seven females are appointed as Metropolitan, Municipal, District Chief Executives in the Northern region.

NORSAAC says it will hold the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led government to its 2016 campaign promise to appoint thirty per cent women as MMDCEs.

The Ghana Statistical Service in its population census since 1960 has always purged female within 15-54 years exceeding males within the same years at an average of 1.56%, however, history is yet to be made where there has been 20% women representation in decision making process.

A maximum of three (3) women have been appointed at a time as MMDCEs in the Northern region from 2001 to 2016. The Kufuor-led administration in 2001 to 2008 appointed three females as MMDCEs something that was welcomed by Civil Society Organizations in women empowerment but the number dwindled to one female in the eight years of the National Democratic government, which NORSAAC describes as unacceptable.

NORSAAC a nongovernmental organization in the northern region that seeks to empower women to take up leadership role in governance has charged the Akufo-Addo administration to fulfill its manifesto promise by including at least seven women in the MMDCEs that would be appointed in the Northern region.

“Whilst we commend the party for its previous records including the current efforts in the number of female ministers, any number less than seven female MMD Chief Executives in the Northern Region would be unacceptable.”

The 1992 Constitution makes provision for the appointment of MMDCEs by the President with the prior approval of not less than two thirds majority of members of the Assembly present and voting at the meeting, The MMDCE is the Chief representative of the Central Government in the District responsible for the day-today performance of the executive and administrative functions of the District.

NORSAAC insists that President Nana Akufo-Addo to be gender sensitive in his appointment as promised by him in the run up to the 2016 polls that “I will be a president for all Ghanaians whatever your region, your tribe, your gender, your status, or your religion.”

Meanwhile, information reaching 3news.com indicates that less than seven women have applied so far to be appointed for the position of MMDCEs.