We lost opportunity to follow CPP's historic affirmative action move - lawyer

The NPP's decision to shelve a controversial affirmative policy is a missed opportunity to make history, a former parliamentary aspirant Gloria Ofori Boadu has lamented.

“The Convention Peoples Party as far back as 1959, came up with the Representation of the Women's' Members Act which was also greeted with some acrimony….but then it was passed and 55 years on we still acclaim it as a landmark” the NPP woman said.

Opposition NPP has beaten a u-turn in its attempt to allow its 16 female MPs to go uncontested by male aspirants, following internal party backlash.

According to the General Secretary, the National Council has directed that  "a comprehensive plan should be worked out for adoption and implementation at our next annual congress slated for November 2015".

Party leaders including those who supported the controversial policy have been hailing the reversal as evidence that the party is attentive to concerns raised by rank and file.

“We don't want to do anything that will jeopardize the chances of the party come 2016”, deputy Minority leader Dominic Nitiwul explained the reversal to Joy News.

They party wants to do more background work to generate greater consensus.

Although unsurprised by the decision, lawyer and gender activist Gloria Ofori Boadu says, “it is an opportunity missed to make history”.

Ofori-Boadu, who contested in the Abuakwa South primaries in 2008  says she hopes the party will be able to adopt the policy in November but “I know that we have missed it.”

She urged other parties not to hesitate to take the lead because she believes the low levels of female participation in politics affects the quality of Ghana's development.

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Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline|Edwin Appiah|[email protected]