Nana Oye Lithur, former Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, has encouraged female parliamentary aspirants of the various political parties to brace up for vigorous campaign as they seek to represent their constituents in the next legislature.
“We should discard any form of inferiority complex, stand up and prepare against any attacks, character assassination, blackmailing, acrimony and other undemocratic tendencies aimed at discouraging us from our ambition to play active roles in the democratic governance of the country,” she noted.
Nana Oye Lithur on her quest to win the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Adentan Constituency was hopeful “women in politics will serve as the game changer to redeem the sinking image of politicians.
“The nation needs more female parliamentarians to balance political pendulum, provide the other side of politics and represent the larger populace, who are often sidestepped by event including youth, children, vulnerable and larger society.
“Politics is not only masculine but has feminine side too, which crop of female parliamentary aspirants seek to offer. We need both the black and white keys to play melodious sound from the piano. In the same way, we need both female and male active parliamentarians to accelerate growth and development of the country.
“Even though the political field is most often hostile and intimidating to female aspirants, we must not give up on our political duty to provide leadership to the citizenry. Naturally both men and women have their limits in whatever endeavour they undertake, but when they blend their strengths together, they will achieve accelerated growth and development of the country.
“I appeal to the media to be circumspect in dealing with female parliamentary aspirants, deal with female parliamentary aspirants from gender perspective, work to reduce political intimidation, antagonism, acrimony and stereotypes.
“Gender inequalities undermine poverty reduction, economic growth and social mobility, with high and growing inequalities. Growth and development cannot be sustained but the right mix of social policies can curb inequality.
“Elections 2020 offers the citizenry an opportunity to address all forms of political motivated violence against women. The various political parties, especially the NDC and the New Patriotic Party (NPP), should accelerate efforts to prevent politically related violence against women through public awareness campaigns, interventions in education system and community mobilisation activities,” Nana Oye Lithur asserted. –GNA
