Gender advocate congratulates female MPs-elect

A gender advocate and the Western Regional Director of the Department of Gender, Ms Paulina Tangoba Abayage, has congratulated all women who contested in last week’s parliamentary election and wished those who won their seats the best of luck.

She has also commended all Ghanaian women, both politicians and non-politicians, for the critical role they played before, during and after this year’s election in helping to sustain the peace in the country.

She, however, implored the elected women parliamentary candidates of the various political parties to discharge their duties effectively for the public to have confidence in women politicians and leaders.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic  in an interview on the assessment of how women politicians performed at this year’s presidential and parliamentary polls, Ms Tangoba advised those who could not make it to remain firm and resolute and try their luck next time.

She, therefore, called on all stakeholders to offer the needed support to all female leaders, particularly female politicians, in their bid to seek political power.

Nation building

“Both women politicians and non-politicians have done well in ensuring that the country still has peace,” she said, noting, “I am exceedingly glad that our election has been peaceful.”

According to her, women’s contribution towards nation building in any nation could not be overlooked, explaining, “Any country that does not bring women on board in its decision-making process is losing a lot.”

Ms Tangoba expressed the joy that many Ghanaian women were now moving out of their comfort zones and were taking leadership positions in their communities.

“It is a great step forward that women are now getting out of their comfort zones and taking leadership positions in our society,” she said.

She, however, expressed worry that although the number of women that contested in this year’s parliamentary polls was more than that of previous elections, their performance did not reflect in the number that contested.

Inclusiveness

She said she was also optimistic that the new government, led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, would involve more women in the decision-making process for the country to benefit from their expertise.

She debunked the claims by some people that women politicians were arrogant and disrespectful to their fellow women and men, explaining, “It is a matter of attitude and not that women politicians are disrespectful.”