Gender advocate commends President for appointing women to hold key ministerial positions

A Gender Advocate and the Western Regional Director of the Department of Gender, Ms Paulina Tangoba Abayage, has commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his decision to appoint women to hold key ministerial positions in his government.

She advised the women who had been named as ministers-designate to work hard to justify the confidence reposed in them.

Ms Abayage also expressed the hope that more women would be appointed either as regional or deputy ministers in the next set of the President’s ministerial list.

“I am impressed with the appointments and the nominations so far. It is encouraging, especially those in Cabinet positions,” she said.

Women’s role

Speaking to the Daily Graphic about the role of women in governance, Ms Abayage said it was important that competent women were given the opportunity to serve the nation in order to propel the development of the country.

According to her, every country at least needed 30 per cent of women’s participation and inclusion in the governance process.

Ms Abayage said the appointment of a woman as the Chief of Staff, for instance, was an action that needed to be commended by all.

“It is laudable that for the first time, a woman has been appointed as the Chief of Staff,” she said.

According to her, the appointment of women as presidential staffers and into key ministerial positions was a dream-come-true for gender advocates.

“We have key ministerial positions that have gone to women, for instance the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) is a step in a right direction,” Ms Abayage stated.

She added, “I am happy that we have a number of women who are Cabinet ministers,” explaining, “If we have more women in government, it will aid the country’s development.”

Advice

Ms Abayage urged the women who had been given appointments and nominated for key positions in government and other sectors of the economy to humble themselves and work peacefully with their subordinates.

“Be yourself and learn to work with people because public service is about people. Let people be excited that you have been put at that position and don’t lord it over your subordinates,” Ms Abayage advised. 

She further entreated women in authority to “fight for the welfare and interest of all people, particularly women”.

The release of President Akufo-Addo’s third batch of ministerial nominees for parliamentary consideration last Thursday brings the number of ministerial nominees to 36.

This was after the President had announced the first batch of 13 last Tuesday and another batch of 12 last Wednesday.

Out of the number, 27 are males and nine are females. Six of the female nominees are Members of Parliament (MPs).

 Every country at least needs 30 per cent of women’s participation and inclusion in the governance process.