NDC primaries: Female MPs shouldn’t be contested – Minority Leader pleads

Parliament’s Minority Leader has expressed his desire for female MPs on his side of the aisle to have a free pass to a re-election bid.

Haruna Iddrisu made this known in a media address in Parliament Thursday, when he said if he had his way, none of the female NDC legislators “will be subjected primaries.”



This is part of the Tamale South MP’s ideas to increase female participation in politics.

While reacting to a University of Ghana survey on Parliament, the leaders of both sides of the House proposed ways to better such findings.

Iddrisu reiterated his point on finding ways to keep women participation in Ghana’s democracy.

According to him, the answer lies in amending the 1992 Constitution to allow for proportional representation of women.

One way of doing this is to make each region nominate a woman to represent them in Parliament, Haruna suggested.

Action Bill

Various governments have tried to increase the participation of women in the politics of the country with the erstwhile John Mahama government introducing an Affirmative Action Bill into the House.

The sixth Parliament, however, failed to pass the Bill before its tenure expired in January 2017.

Speaking during his first State of the Nation Address, President Nana Akufo-Addo said his government will collaborate with parliament to pass the Bill into law.

This, he said will “increase women’s involvement in decision making at all levels.”

Source: Myjoyonline.com