Mahama�s 'More Women In Public Offices' Claim Is Farfetched - Michael Ampong

Immediate past Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Greater Accra Region, Michael Kwabena Ampong believes President Mahama missed the point when he said at the 69th UN General Assembly that 7 women are cabinet Ministers in his administration. According to him, taking the entire public employees into account, it�s obvious that women have been sidelined by President Mahama. He believes since the inclusion of women in public offices was a campaign promise in 2008, what Ghanaians are witnessing today is absolutely abysmal. His comment came to light when President Mahama posited at the 69th UN General Assembly that his administration can boast of the highest number of women appointed to public office in the history of Ghana. The President placed on record during his speech that �Seven of Cabinet Ministers are women, as are the holders of several senior public service posts and I hope the fact that they are too numerous to list is an indication that we are reaching toward the ideal�. Also in existence, according to President Mahama, are several other pieces of legislation designed to offer protection and empowerment of women such as the Domestic Violence Act, the Human Trafficking Act, an Affirmative Action Bill, and a Gender Policy. However, in an interview with Sena Numbo on Radio Gold�s Current Affairs Program Alhaji and Alhaji Saturday, Michael Ampong said President Mahama must stop boasting and blaze the trail by offering women the 40% space in public offices that NDC promised during the 2008 campaign. He maintained that the impression the president has created at the UN General Assembly is far-fetched. On the other hand, he noted that even some of the few women who have been given space in public offices have failed Ghanaians, sighting Victoria Hammah and the CHRAJ boss Lauretta Lamptey among others.