Women are taking more national leadership positions

These are truly exciting times in Ghana. For the first time in 52 years of independence, Ghana has a female Speaker of Parliament. This follows the appointment of the first everh female Chief Justice in 2007. We also have the first female Acting Inspector General of Police and the first ever female Minister of Justice and Attorney General. Strides have certainly been made to bring women into high national positions.

Advocacy for women to occupy high ranking national positions has been on-going since the days of independence. Groups including Women in Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF), Abantu for Development, Women in Self Empowerment (WISE), Tenon Taaba and several other non-governmental organizations have been engaged in training, advocacy and mentoring to bring more women to the capacity required to take up key positions in the country. At the community, district and national level, efforts have been made to equip women to rise up to be seen, heard and counted. Now, achievements are being made which are an incentive for more work to be done. Young women and experienced women alike are becoming more involved in issues "outside the kitchen", and this augurs well for the entire nation. This is good and encouraging.

There is however a lot more to be done. Ghana's 230-strong Parliament includes only 20 women, one of the most prominent of them being Ms. Samia Yaba Nkrumah, the only daughter of Ghana's first president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. We need more women to be interested in national politics and put themselves up for positions. Doors need to be opened for women to be better educated and informed about national and community activities in order to contribute fully to national development. If women can manage a home effectively, women can also manage the nation.

PS: The photo attached is that of Honorable Mrs. Frema Osei Opare, Member of Parliament.

I congratulate the Speaker of Parliament, Right Honorable Adeline Bamford Addo, Chief Justice Georgina Woode, all female Members of Parliament, all approved female Ministers of State, and all women who are in the lead in national development. I also congratulate Mrs. Margaret Mwanakatwe, former Managing Director of Barclays Bank Ghana, for being a major role model for many Ghanaian women. To all advocates of the development and advancement of women in Ghana and Africa, as well as donor organizations who have made advocacy for women's rights possible, I say blessings and peace be upon you as you continue to work hard for what you believe in.