International Day of Women: A moment for reflection on the investment made in women towards an enhanced development
The Day is marked by women’s groups, organizations, governments and individuals to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women. It is a time when Women of all continents irrespective of their socio- cultural and linguistic, or political and academic backgrounds come together to look back and evaluate their struggles for equality, justice, peace and development.
The Day, coming two days after the celebration of Ghana’s 54th Independence calls for stocktaking on the status of Ghanaian Women vis-a-vis their contribution to the development of the country since independence, within the frame work of the many international and regional instruments the Nation is signatory to.
While saluting the brave and distinguished Women of the land who have achieved feats in various fields of endeavour, we must be quick to add that the representation of this gender in the decision making spheres of the country does not reflect our position as the First Born, Black shining Star and the Beacon of Democracy in Africa.
With as low as 19 of a membership of 230 in our legislative body, 14 of the 75 ministerial positions, some Government Boards like the Pharmacy Council, Grains and Legumes, and the Ghana Water and Sanitation Boards having no female representatives further questions our commitment to gender equality. Perhaps the greatest of these is the recently held District Assembly elections which saw 5681 men against 412 women voted into office. These raise the following questions;
- What is Ghana’s commitment to the International and Regional frameworks on gender equality ratified?
- What are the steps we have taken to address the gaping gaps between women and men’s representation in decision making?
- What have we done as a country in terms of the formulation and implementation of Affirmative Action?
- What is the way forward?
As we commemorate this day, may it not be full of flamboyant statements of mere rhetorics, but may it give the Distinguished Women of our Nobel Land the hope and assurance that they matter. This can be done as we respect the provisions of the Section G of the Beijing Platform for Action which specifically states that “empowerment and autonomy of women and the improvement of women’s social, economic and political status is essential for the achievement of both transparent and accountable government”(UN Women’s conference, Beijing, 1995). Article 7 of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), also stresses that all States “take appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in political and public life in the country”. These views are further buttressed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document which reminds us “that everyone has the right to take part in the government of his/her country”
Additionally, let us learn from other Countries like Burkina Faso and Uganda who have Constitutional quotas, South Africa and Mozambique, who have political party quotas; and Rwanda which has a combination of measures; reserved seats policy, executive appointment and across party women caucus.
Alternatively, let the government implement the brilliant proposals made by the Syndicate group on gender, notably the proposals by NETRIGHT and WiLDAF at the just ended Constitutional Review Commission Conference.
It is the fervent hope of the women of Ghana that the high figures of endemic poverty, stark illiteracy, acute maternal mortality and HIV/AIDS, astronomical figures of abused women, abysmal figures of women in decision making and the like would all be history.
It is the hope of Ghanaian Women that the celebration of the Day will cause Government and others to come to translate their commitments into action to ensure effective structures for the implementation of critical policy directions for an increased numerical participation of women in decision making, locally and nationally. We are confident that this when well executed will provide a more responsive, equitable and participatory development because governance and decision making has been brought nearer to the people.
May the efforts of all Ghanaian Women in the formal and informal sectors, see tremendous results as more women ascend the halls of power, and may women’s rights truly be respected promoted and protected, Yes We Can.
By Mercy C. Adjabeng, WiLDAF Ghana