35 female MPs?

Ghana could
have done better - Gender Activist
The figure is an increase of 6, as against the election 2012 figure of 29,
where 133 women contested 102 parliamentary seats.
Published: 13.12.2016
Mildred Europa Taylor
Print
eMail

play

24/7 Live - Subscribe to the Pulse Newsletter!

Enter email addre
Subscribe
Thirty-five women will take their place as female legislators in Ghanas next
parliament, but a womens right activist argues that the figure is not enough.
The figure is an increase of 6, as against the election 2012 figure of 29, where 133 women
contested 102 parliamentary seats.
In this years election, however, 137 out of the 1,158 parliamentary candidates who
contested were women.
But Gender Activist, Adwoa Bame believes If we are doing six in four years, how long will it
take us to get to 50 percent of the 275. That will be a long time. We have done okay, it is
not enough.
 playAdwoa Bame

She tells Pulse.com.gh that the main setback of women aspirants is finance, as men are
able to dole out more money to electorates than women.
The campaign has become so capital intensive and the electorates are used to being given
money and gifts and so on. And the women are finding it quite difficult and Im sure if you
talk to the women who have actually won, although they have won, finance has been one of
their major headache, Ms Adwoa Bame, who is also the Deputy Convener for the Womens
Manifesto Coalition for Ghana added.
READ ALSO: Why are there so few women in Ghana's Parliament? - Pulse.com.gh
She argued that the Affirmative Action Bill is what is going to be able to speed up the pace.
Without it, we are not going to get anywhere.
The Bill seeks to identify and redress areas of social, cultural, economic and educational
imbalance in Ghana, especially as they relate to discrimination against women, and to
promote the full and active participation of women in public life by providing for a more
equitable system of representation in electoral politics and governance.
Breakdown of the figures
Of the 35 seats, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) holds 12, and the New Patriotic
Party (NPP) holds 23.
But this is only 12.72 percent of the total parliamentarians, as against figures from Ghanas
Sub-Saharan African counterparts.
Rwanda has a feature rate of 63.80 and Senegal and South Africa has a feature rate of
42.70 percent and 41.80 percent of women representation respectively.
The NDC contested with 40 women candidates, the NPP led with 29, Convention Peoples
Party (CPP) had 28, the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) had 17, the Peoples National
Congress (PNC) had 9.
The National Democratic Party (NDP) put forth 6 candidates, the All Peoples Congress
(APC) led with 2 and the United Peoples Party (UPP) put forth 1 candidate.
There were also 4 women who contested as independent candidates this past election.
Regional breakdown
The Greater Accra region had 10 women winning their seats with the Eastern Region
getting 5 women.
The Volta Region had 5 while the Northern region had 1. None of the female candidates in
the Upper West region won their seats.
Below is the list of winners in the various regions:
Greater Accra region:
Tina Gifty Naa Ayeley Mensah, NPP, Weija Gbawe
Sophia Karen Ackuaku, NDC, Domeabra/Obom
Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, NPP, Anyaa Sowutuom
Sarah Adwoa Sarfo, NPP, Dome Kwabenya
Nana Akua Owusu Afriyieh, NPP, Ablekuma North
Ursula Owusu, NPP, Ablekuma West
Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings, NDC, Klottey Korle
Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, NPP, Krowor
Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, NDC, Shai Osudoku
Cudjoe Comfort Doyoe, NDC, Ada
Eastern region:
Nana Dokua Asiamah Adjei, NPP, Akropong
Adu Gyamfi Mercy, NPP, Akwatia
Gifty Twum-Ampofo, NPP, Abuakwa North
Abena Osei-Asare, NPP, Atiwa East
Mensah Betty Nana Efua Krosby, NDC, Afram Plains North
Northern region
Alima Mahama, NPP, Nalarigu/Gambaga
Central region:
Barbara Asher Ayisi, NPP, Cape Coast North
Naana Eyiah, NPP, Gomoa Central
Mavis Hawa Koomson, NPP, Awutu Senya East
Cynthia Mamle Morrison, NPP, Agona West
Queenstar Pokuah Sawyerr, NDC, Agona East
Abena Durowaa Mensah, NPP, Assin North
Volta region:
Joycelyn Tetteh, NDC, North Dayi
Della Sowah, NDC, Kpando
Bernice Adiku Heloo, NDC, Hohoe
Angela Oforiwa Alorwu-Tay, NDC, Afadzato South
Helen Adjoa Ntoso, NDC, Krachi West
Western region:
Catherine Abelema Afeku, NPP, Evalue Ajomoro Gwira
Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, NPP, Prestea Huni Valley
Upper East:
Ayamba Laadi Ayii, NDC, Pusiga
Ashanti region:
Joyce Adwoa Akoh, NPP, Bosome Freho
Patricia Appiagyei, NPP, Asokwa
Francisca Oteng Mensah, NPP, Kwabre East
Ama Pomaa Boateng, NPP, Juaben
Brong Ahafo region:
Freda Prempeh, NPP, Tano Nor