A shame for Ghana if fewer women get elected - MP

Sogakope (V/R), June 30, GNA - It would be a shame if the next Parliament sees a reduction in the number of women elected, a top legislator has said.

Mr Kwabena Okerchiri, Majority Chief Whip, said it would be an embarrassment for Ghana's legislature, if fewer women get elected to Parliament because of current trends. The Member of Parliament (MP) was speaking at the end of a two-day workshop on Sunday at Sogakope in the Volta Region for members of the Parliamentary Press Corps.


The workshop was on the theme: "Preparing the Parliamentary Press Corps to face the Challenges of Parliamentary Reporting." Mr Okerchiri said in recent times, various protocols and instruments, including those of the African Union have advocated for more women's representation in leadership positions. He said in future political parties needed to take a decision on empowering women by allowing incumbent women MPs to avoid primaries or by amending party constitutions to make to room for more women. Earlier, during the opening, Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, a General Manager of the Graphic Group of Communications, urged the press to educate the public on the workings of parliament. "We need to educate our people to accept that Parliament is more important to democracy than the executive." "It is the only arm of government where diversity and partisanship can be openly canvassed."

Mr Robert Apodolla, a Deputy Clerk of Parliament, took the group through some basic principles for conduct of business in the House including the stages in the passage of bills. Mr Freddie Blay, First Deputy Speaker, urged the press to rise up to the task of upholding parliamentary democracy.