Ghana: Another symbolic victory for women in politics

Women in Law and Development in Africa protest the lack of women in senior government positions in Ghana, 2009

It was announced yesterday that Ghana’s Progressive Peoples’ Party (PPP), which declares itself as a  “broad-based national movement,” has chosen a female candidate for their Vice President in the upcoming general elections.

Eva Naa Amarley Lokko, who is the former Director General of Ghana’s Broadcasting Corporation, confirmed she had been appointed. She is the only female running mate declared to date by the main political parties in Ghana’s run up to the elections. It is hoped that news of her candidacy will put pressure on other parties such as the ruling National Democratic Party (NDC) party to consider who they appoint.

Womankind’s partner, WiLDAF-Ghana, has been lobbying the NDC to appoint a female running mate to run with their Presidential candidate John Mahama, who recently took over the helm after the sudden death of President John Atta Mills.

Ghana needs to strengthen and consolidate and some of the gains it has made in the last two decades  in ensuring more women are participating in the political arena, and buck the worrying trend that has seen the number of women in parliament drop over  the last three general elections.

Post by Catherine Klirodotakou