Appoint more women, PWDs to MMDAs– Otiko

Former Minister for Gender Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) and CEO of Henry Djaba Memorial Foundation, Madam Otiko Afisa Djaba, has urged government to as matter of urgency appoint more women, persons with disability (PWDs) to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
“Allocating 30% of women, PWDs to these sectors will be the best thing to happen to them and help them contribute to social and economic growth. In spite of all the challenges, they face, a little over 200 women and few persons with disability won the Local Government Elections on December 17, 2019,” she said at a press conference  organised by the Henry Djaba Memorial Foundation at Abelemkpe, a suburb of Accra.
Henry Djaba foundation, is a gender/disability based organization (GDBO) established with a core mission of working towards a socio-economic transformation of the vulnerable and the disabled as well as the empowerment of women and children.
“For Persons with Disability, the challenges they face are immeasurable. The ridicule, disrespect, and non-recognition of their ability and capacity to take part in decision-making is a worrying concern,’’ Otiko said.
The former Gender Minister noted that patriarchal society and the negative name tagging affect women and persons with disability.
These challenges are further compounded by unequal distribution of power and resources, cultural and traditional issues.
Otiko Djaba further stated that, women are doing their best to overcome these constraints by challenging the status quo which some 920 courageous women and PWDs put themselves forward to contest the 2019 District Level and Unit Committee Elections on December 17^th 2019.
“Though the number was very small compared to the large number of men’’ she asked government to support PDS’s and women to represent in decision-making bodies to be achieved by 2030,” she added.
This she believes will fulfill Ghana’s commitment to the African Union Gender Agenda of ensuring 50/50 representation of women in decision-making.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Queenel Delali Kukey