Minister advises women not to decline political appointments

Even though Ghanaian women are strong advocates of equality, there are indications that, many of them shy away from political appointments, which is crucial if they have to get a strong voice at the decision-making level.

In the light of this, Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, MP has advised the women not to turn down political appointments but be courageous and offer to serve the people.

The Minister, who has continuously expressed disappointment at the failure and sometimes outright refusal of women to take up the challenge told a people’s assembly in Sunyani, that it is not the system that is marginalizing women as far as political and public appointments are concerned.

"Most women just decline to accept such positions for perceived fear of criticisms," he said.

Mr. Baah-Wiredu explained that early last year when appointments for district chief executives were being made, a number of women contacted for the job declined it for various reasons.

He, therefore, urged women to be courageous to offer themselves as assembly members during the district assembly elections to be held in June.

The Minister also touched on the Highly Indebted Poor Countries' Initiative (HIPC), saying if it had not been accepted, the government would have paid 4.4 trillion cedis as capital on interests to its international creditors last year.

"The government is now working out an agreement with the country's creditors to be able to disburse their money in three months' time to all district assemblies to finance some identifiable development projects, which would be marked as HIPC projects," he said.

Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Ernest Akubour Debrah, said the loans and grants the government had been receiving from international donors as well as financial multi-national institutions are testimonies of the confidence that the international community has in the government.

He attributed this to the government's sound foreign policies and good international relations.

He also spoke on the Rule of Law. "The rule of law is the bedrock of democratic governance, so the law will not spare anyone who will flout it; every citizen is subject to it."

The Regional Minister cited the case of Mallam Yusuf Issah, the jailed former Sports Minister, saying, though he was a member of the Kufuor administration, he was jailed when the court found him guilty in the 46,000-dollar scandal.

"No one must consider Victor Selormey's case and others pending at the fast track court as harassment and victimisation of the government's opponents," he said, adding, "it is the law that is taking its course".

Mr. Debrah said the current economic indicators like the low level of inflation and interest rates, stability of the cedi and other economic gains are all moves to put the country on a higher pedestal for a better economic take-off.