Can we have a woman for Vice President

Many have often wondered why despite educational campaigns urging women to get actively involved in politics, they shy away from contesting the Presidency. None of the major Political parties contesting the 2008 general elections has had a women filing for the Presidency. The New Patriotic Party had 19 men filing without a woman. Four men filed for National Democratic Congress Presidential slot, Convention People's Party has 4 and People National Convention with 2 filing. There are however rumors that some parties intend having women as running mates. Sunday World interviewed some women to find out why over the years, Ghana has not has a women filing for the Presidential slot.

Nana Oye Lithur,the Regional Director of the Common Wealth Human Rights Initiative thinks women are not aspiring to the Presidential level because politics in Ghana is modeled around a masculine System.

According to her, "politics in Ghana is aggressive and too antagonizing." "it has typical male characteristics". Mrs Lithur added that in Ghanaian politics ones private life is brought to the public domain. "All the boy friends you had are brought out and women do not like that".

She said some women cannot stand the insults that go with politics and therefore will prefer not to aspire to that level where society will say all manner of things about them. "If our politics will continue like this then I am afraid women cannot aspire to the presidential level".

Mrs Lithur also said women do not aspire to the Presidential Level because the cost involved is too high. She stated that the fee for filing is so high and most women cannot afford it.

Women are normally concerned about the families feeding and school fees hence will not see aspiring as a President as a priority when the cost involved is high.

Another reason why Mrs Lithur thinks women shy away from the Presidency is due to their educational status. She said "most women feel their level of education is not high enough for them to aspire to that position".

She added that political parties are not helping enough because most of them are not encouraging more women in politics." Since independence, the representation of women in Parliament has not gone beyond 10 percent" "if this does not change not change then it will be difficult to see more women aspire to that level."

Mrs Lithur said for instance political parties could field women in their strong holds and that will be a step towards aspiring for their presidency.

A solution to get women involved in the Presidency according to Mrs Lithur is affirmative action. "We have been calling for affirmative action because this is the only way we think women can get involved in politics and more especially aspire to file for the Presidency.

The Acting Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and

Administrative Justice, Anna Bossman on her part thinks women are not shying away from that position.

According to her, some women will want to file for the Presidency but structures and processes within the political parties make it very difficult for them not to contest.

Ms Bossman also said the society is not supportive of women going into politics hence should a woman file there will be no support for her.

"I think sometime ago, the political parties were asked to ensure they have certain percentage of women represented in constituencies, they are not doing it". "Many women am sure if they get the support will file for that position", she said.

Ms Bossman said the current situation where women are not supported is not good, "we must be helping them". "The support system is just not there" she emphasized.

The Acting Commissioner said "I don't know if I will one day aspire for that position because right now am ok where I am". "I don't however think women are shying away we have to be realistic to look around if you will be supported or not".

She has therefore made an appeal to the civil society to help women since some are willing to file and contest that position.

The NPP Member of Parliament for Kwadaso, Josephine Hilda Addoh who has the desire of contesting the Presidency said despite her ambition, she cannot go ahead because the cost involved in filing is too much.

"We have competent, matured and qualified women in this country who could become presidents but the huge sum of money deters many".

According to Ms Addoh most women cannot get money aside the filing to campaign in order to win. "am not talking about sharing money to people to vote for you but getting money to move round the country to campaign.

She said politics is expensive and it is for that reason that a few women are in parliament.

"Some women will love to contest but I personally think they just don't have the funds to aspire to that Presidential level".

"Some of us have been in Parliament for sometime now and should have been aspiring to that high position but the funds are not available hence we just coil back".

The NDC Member of Parliament for Ho East, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah simply says women are more concerned about their families. "we are more concerned about our children and to aspire to the Presidency will not let us have time for our children who need us most".

Mrs Azumah-Mensah says aspiring to the level of being a Member of Parliament is enough for her.

She also thinks if one will want to aspire to that high position of becoming a president, society will not make it easy for them. "It has never been easy for those of use who aspired even to the MP level. "You are often insulted every now and then and if you are not courageous, you might just quite out of frustration.

"Perhaps in some years to come things will change, but for me my children matter most so I will not like that high position".

General Secretaries of some parties think despite measure by the parties to get women contest, they keep shying away.

The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah said even though the party has not done a research to find out why women shy away from the Presidency, he thinks a major reason is the fact that they are not courageous enough.

He noted that the country has just a few courageous women like the late Hawa Yakubu. "if Hawa was still alive I know for sure she would have been part of the Presidential aspirants".

Mr Nketiah said if women are not courageous enough no matter what measures might be put in place by civil society, they will still not come forward for that position.

"It is for this reason that our party has sought to train women to build their capacity". "the women need to build their confidence so that those who excel can be able to stand up to the challenge.

Contrary to the notion that the Party has no structures that favour women to push them to aspire for that position, the General Secretary said the constitution of various parties is based on the national Constitution which does not discriminate against women.

He however said something can be done about the situation. "The appropriate response is to put in place a constitution that is discriminatory in favour of women". "I think we can use positive discrimination to address this gender parity issue".

Mr Nketiah said the entry point for women should top positions in political parties where they can groom themselves and have the courage to aspire to that high level.

He disagreed with those who think financial constraints is preventing women from aspiring. "There are no figures to indicate women are poorer than men hence it is difficult to say finances is a factor, I think it is however due to complex factors".

The General Secretary of the Peoples National Convention, Gabriel Pwanang says women are not filing for the Presidential Position because in our environment, there are certain prejudices against women. "Women themselves are conscious of this factor", he said.

According to him, a woman who wants to file for that position will have to take into account the environment in which she is to see whether the population will help her. "That fact confronts her and limits her", he said.

Mr Pwamang cited an example by saying that "even in the Party, the difficulty for a woman is how to rise above the men and get their support".

He noted that Women themselves have been too conscious by saying that "the environment is not favorable for a woman President".

"For a woman President, we need someone who is quite brave, has the charisma and rise above all". He also praised the late Hawa Yakubu whom he thinks could have contested for the Presidency. " one could see the late Hawa Yakubu bracing herself up for such a task but it appears we don't have that many of such women who have grown themselves to contest or confront the stereotype that we all have"

The General Secretary however thinks with time women will contest the Presidency.

Contrary to statements that the Constitution of various parties does not favour women, Mr Pwamang said it is not true.

"Our constitution does not discriminate against women".

He explained that before one files as a Presidential Candidate of the PNC, one has to be a registered member and should have paid dues appropriately.

Mr Pwamang added that in addition to the party's qualifications, one must also qualify the national Constitution on becoming a President.