Gender Dynamism Comment: NETRIGHT Sets The Records Straight, Asks For Commitment To Constitutional Provisions On Gender

The Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT), in a press statement released on Monday said, the government and state agencies must satisfy gender equality provisions in the 1992 constitution.

“… for this change to occur in the lives of Ghanaian women and girls, the state and its agencies must fulfil constitutional, regional and international commitments to gender equality, and regularly report on progress to citizens,” the statement said.

This came at the back of President Akufo Addo’s comment at the Women Deliver Conference in Canada last week. The President said it will take more than wishes and hopes for women to get to the decision-making table.

“We are not seeing enough dynamism and activism on the part of those who are seeking. I am talking about dynamism where it matters…electing people to Parliament, controlling political parties because they are the instruments by which our societies make decisions,” Akufo-Addo argued.

The statement also stated there are only 18.5% of women in the current government’s ministerial appointment making it otherwise in other African countries such as Rwanda, Ethiopia and South Africa with 50% female ministers each.

“As of 2019, women’s representation in Parliament remains at an abysmal 13.7% and, women constitute only 18.55% of all ministerial appointments.”

  Notwithstanding the existence of the Domestic Violence Act, sexual and gender based violence remains a major issue in the country.

The Network for Women Rights in their statement bemoaned government’s hesitant to consider the Gender Ministry as part of cabinet.

“For the first time since its creation, the Gender Ministry no longer has cabinet status.”

Below is the full statement

PRESS STATEMENT BY NETWORK FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS IN GHANA (NETRIGHT)

The Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT), a network of about 100 civil society

organizations and over 300 individuals, has followed closely remarks made by President Nana

Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the recently ended “Women Deliver Conference” in Vancouver,

Canada. We have also followed the comments and interpretations this has engendered on

various radio and TV stations, in social media, and at different press conferences.

Some of the debates have been highly politicized, and others have contained inaccuracies, and/or

reflected a misunderstanding of the major issues of concern related to the status of women and

girls in Ghana and globally. Yet others have lifted the conversation to a place that provides

Ghanaians with an opportunity to reflect on, and discuss how we can make Ghana a safe and

supportive space where all citizens can flourish and give of their best.

It is important to note that women’s activism has a long history in Ghana, and it is rooted in

traditions of female mobilisation and cooperation. Ghanaian women have a long and continuing

history of political activism and participation in public life and the struggle for a democratic

nation. Over the years women’s activism has led to the creation of numerous and diverse groups

that have advocated and worked hard across Ghana to improve the lives of women and girls.

Groups such as NETRIGHT with membership from across rural and urban Ghana, of different

political and religious persuasions, and inclusive of men, have worked together to bring a gender

perspective to national processes and advocate for policy change to bring about substantive and

demonstrable equality between women and men.

NETRIGHT believes that the conditions of marginalized or disadvantaged groups, including

women, can never be improved solely through their own efforts, no matter how dynamic they

might be. Systemic barriers and structures of male privilege and dominance maintain the status

quo, and undermine the ability of women to realize their potential. In contemporary thinking, it

is recognised that states have an obligation to create the enabling environment for all citizens to

thrive and contribute to development. States such as Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Africa and Senegal

provide examples of political will and leadership on women’s representation and participation in

decision-making. This is in contrast to the situation in Ghana where women continue to lag

behind in many sectors of public life and decision-making.

Together with other coalitions such as the Women’s Manifesto Coalition, and the Domestic

Violence Coalition, we played the critical role in the passage of domestic violence legislation and

the development of the Women’s Manifesto. As far back as 2004, the Women’s Manifesto called

for increased representation and participation of women in decision-making and demanded that

the legislature become 30% female by 2008 and 50% female by 2012! It also called for the equal

participation of women in the leadership of political parties. Copies of the Manifesto were

presented to Parliament and political parties. Sadly, there has been little progress towards these

targets. As of 2019, women’s representation in Parliament remains at an abysmal 13.7% and

women constitute only 18.55% of all ministerial appointments. For the first time since its

creation, the Gender Ministry no longer has cabinet status. Sexual and gender-based violence

remains a big problem, notwithstanding the existence of the Domestic Violence Act, and

budgetary allocations for effective implementation of the law is low.

NETRIGHT has supported and worked to increase women’s representation and effectiveness in

district assemblies, in parliament and in public life. We were deeply involved in the constitutional

review process and have worked with successive governments to push for the passage of

Affirmative Action legislation, the Property Rights of Spouses Bill, and the review of the Intestate

Succession Law, all of which are still before Parliament.

We are working with various stakeholders, including traditional leaders and communities, to

address structural barriers facing women in the access, control and ownership of land, including

agricultural land. Our work is strengthening women’s capacities in land governance through the

establishment of community land development committees, the development of land tenancy

agreement templates to facilitate proper documentation of land tenure security. We want to

ensure that the Land Bill, when passed, will protect the interests and rights of women and the

vulnerable in society.

NETRIGHT is also strengthening the capacity of rural women to engage with agricultural policies,

and working with the Women in Agriculture Directorate (WiAD) of the Ministry of Food and

Agriculture(MOFA) to ensure the roll out of the Gender and Development Strategy (GADS II)

policy at the district level.

We are also working with the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) to support rural

women farmers to add value to agricultural products and working with the Directorate of

Agriculture Extension Services (DAES) of MOFA to train female extension volunteers to support

women farmers and their groups.

NETRIGHT and other groups are committed to continue their work towards transformative and

inclusive change in Ghana. However for this change to occur in the lives of Ghanaian women and

girls, the state and its agencies must fulfil constitutional, regional and international commitments

to gender equality, and regularly report on progress to citizens.

Issued this day 10th June, 2019 in Accra.

For follow up, please contact:

Pauline Vande-Pallen Patricia Blankson Akakpo

NETRIGHT Convenor Programme Manager

Source: ritefmonline.org