Thank you very much, Hon Deputy Majority Leader.
I trust that now, we have gone beyond justifying women representation; it would be more illuminating and helpful to the House if Hon Members would bring concrete suggestions towards the Affirmative Action Bill. This is because I do not really know whether to call what we have now as an Affirmative Action Bill, as I think that it is a litany of suggestions that may not bite if passed the way it is.
For example, if we should have women seriously represented, then we should create what other countries, like Rwanda, have simply done by way of additional seats to be competed for only by women on electoral area basis.
If we have some 50 seats automatically from the electoral areas, maybe, combining three or four District Assemblies to make up an electoral area, we immediately have a female Hon Member of Parliament. When these ladies come, their contributions will further encourage our people as to encouraging women; but deliberate measures must be taken. That is why I call what we have now a litany of suggestions, which may not bite.
So it will be very useful for us to have such meaningful suggestive strategies as to put our women on parity. As for the justification, I believe that Ghana has well gone beyond that, and there is no doubt that women are equally endowed as men by way of intelligence, which is the quintessence of the human being.
Yes, Hon Member, I recognise you.
Ms Laadi Ayii Ayamba (NDC -- Pusiga) Mr Speaker, thank you.
I rise to contribute to the Statement ably made by the leader of the Women Caucus in Parliament, which has its theme for this year as: “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change”.
Mr Speaker, before I continue, let me congratulate all women around the globe, especially those in Ghana and in the Parliament of Ghana.
We appreciate the theme that has been put across. Although in Ghana we know that women have been given equal opportunities to participate in all spheres of life, where they could contribute or compete, there are a lot hindrances that do not give us those opportunities.
Mr Speaker, for instance, as mentioned by the Hon Member who made the Statement, we are 38 out of 275 Hon Members of Parliament. Whether we say it or not, in numbers, we are not properly represented. This gives and creates the impression that after all, even in Parliament, how many are the women?
Taking a cue from what you have just said, the issue of the Affirmative Action Bill, which you took up seriously upon your assumption of office - When Hon Afisa Otiko Djaba was the Hon Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, she took the issues that emanated from the previous Hon Minister, Hon Nana Oye Lithur.
Unfortunately, while we went along the line, the whole Bill was withdrawn and we were told that the Bill would be brought back and presented to the Committee on Gender and Children so that it could finally be sent to Cabinet and brought to Parliament.
Mr Speaker, since then, we have not heard anything about the Bill. That has caused alarm because we do not know why we have sat on it when we have a Rt. Hon Speaker who is ready to support us, and he is ready to talk for us to get what we need.
Hon Leaders, especially the Hon Leader of the Women Caucus, and all of us should join and talk to the Hon Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, and support her to ensure that the Bill is done properly and brought to Parliament for it to be worked on.
Mr Speaker, the issue of 50/50 in Ghana; the representation of women, either in Parliament or in other leadership positions, is long overdue. Our percentage now is even questioned.
All the political parties, especially the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), have spoken about giving opportunities to, at least, 40 per cent of women when it comes to representation or even context.
Mr Speaker, but what are we all doing, including myself? What are we doing to ensure that we get the 40 per cent? It is not a matter of contesting for elections because we could get a woman to contest, but how feasible is it that she would win the elections?
Mr Speaker, as you could see, we have started running here and there in 2019 to ensure that we would be able to contest in the 2020 General Elections. It is very difficult because we do not have the support, and nothing protects us; we would just go in to contest. Meanwhile we are aware of the culture and issues at stake. Mr Speaker, whether we say it or not, one would need a lot of resources to do politics in Ghana. How many women have those resources to also contest?
Mr Speaker, beside the cultural and traditional issues is the fact that education has not gone down well with our fellow women who may contest against us during elections.
