Maurice Ampaw must apologize for his loose comment - Otiko Djaba

play videoOtiko Afisah Djaba, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection

The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection is demanding an apology from controversial legal practitioner, Dr. Maurice Ampaw, for asking government to dissolve her ministry.

Otiko Afisah Djaba insists that even though Dr Ampaw is entitled to his opinion, his comments are uncalled for.

Dr. Maurice Ampaw, in an interview on Atinka TV, called on President Akufo-Addo to scrap the gender ministry describing it as “useless”.

According to the legal practitioner, the ministry has failed to tackle the rate of juvenile delinquencies and other gender-related problems in the country.

But responding to the claims, the Gender Minster indicated that the ministry was formed by an executive instrument due to its relevance in the country and cannot be scrapped.

“Maurice Ampaw is entitled to his opinion perhaps he has not been in Ghana because the Ministry of Gender did not just happen, it started as the national council for women’s development, and in 2001 under Agyekum Kufour it became the Ministry of Women and Children. Maurice Ampaw was in this country and he never came to say they should scrap it. In 2013 the amalgamation of bringing the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection with LEAP and social welfare all coming under the ministry to better focus on gender, children and social protection, Maurice Ampaw never said that the ministry should not be formed because that was when it was put together by an executive instrument. So, I believe that this country deserves a ministry for gender, it’s in our constitution for equity and equality therefore he owes the country an apology for making such a statement,” She said.

The Minister has received an award for her role in the fight against poverty, gender equality and ending child marriages.

The award, an initiative of the Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up (DUSUSU) Foundation is an annual event which recognizes world leaders on their role in advocating for girls’ education and equal opportunities for both male and female.