Joycelyn Tetteh urges more affirmative action for women

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for the North Dayi in the Volta Region, Joycelyn Tetteh, has called for more affirmative actions for women, particularly those in Parliament, to ensure the equitable appointment of women into leadership positions. 

She said the more women were made to head institutions and other places of influence in the governance structure, the more young women would be inspired to go into public service without the fear of intimidation or being looked down upon.

Ms Tetteh, who has been appointed the Vice-Chairperson on the Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources, explained that the political terrain for young women who wanted to venture into politics looked hostile and unfriendly.

She was speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Parliament in Accra last Tuesday.

Balancing scale

She, therefore, called for more affirmative action that would balance the scale of appointment, either 50-50 or 60-40 in favour of women.

Ms Tetteh, who entered Parliament in 2017 as the youngest member of parliament on the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Minority side, has risen through the ranks as a member of both the Business Committee and Constitution, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources. 

The Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources is headed by the NDC Member of Parliament for Nkwanta North with the New Patriotic Party Member of Parliament for Atwima Nwabiagya North, Benito Owusu-Bio as the Ranking Member. 

Commendation

Ms Tetteh commended former President John Dramani Mahama for renominating Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as his running mate for the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

She noted that the decision to renominate Prof. Opoku-Agyemang to partner with him was an endorsement of affirmative action and that former President Mahama was the only President who gave more important appointments to women when he was the President.

Ms Tetteh also commended the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, and the leadership of the Minority caucus in Parliament for recognising her potential.

She pledged to work hard to lift the image of the NDC in and outside Parliament, with the hope of inspiring the young ones, particularly women, to also develop the desire to enter politics.