Twenty-First Century Ghana: Have Perspectives About Women’s Rise To Public Office Changed?

Following the commentaries that have emerged, after the appointment of Mrs. Osei, as a replacement to Afari Gyan; I cannot but wonder whether 21st C entury Ghana is still skeptical to women’s rise to public office. I must admit that, while I find some of the commentaries enlightening; most have been egregiously patronising. It makes me wonder whether our perspectives on the invaluable roles women have played in the evolvement of our societies are lost on us.

I wonder how many of us can boldly say that our lives have not been influenced or shaped by a woman in one form or another. If this is true, how come when some distinguished women are appointed to head public offices, they are greeted with derision? Or is it the case of “they are fit for purpose”, so long as it has nothing to do with being in the limelight?

The ‘brand’ we want others to buy

While we continue to position ourselves as the “poster boys” of everything “democratic”, in a sub-region immersed in violent conflicts and human right abuses; the happenings in our backyard leaves much to be desired. We have consistently made every posturing to make the international community believe that, “all is well” with every facet of our society. When in reality, our commitments to international conventions about the representation of women in our socio-economic and political endeavours have only been rhetorical. They only exist in the books. We have presented fantastic-and in some cases fudged accounts-about how women’s prerogatives have become integral to our development discourse. While on the ground, even those with supposedly enlightened minds have problems with aspirational women.

I am however, not dismissive of the positive gains we have made over the last decades. Compared to most African countries, Ghana is doing fine. But when we compare our statistics to post-conflict countries like Rwanda, then it tells you“we have some journey to make”.If we really want the world out there to take us seriously, then we seriously need to match our “rhetorical” commitments with what prevails on the ground. We cannot afford to “double-tongue” our integrity into an international community that is increasingly recognising how indispensable women have become to our development discourse. If we do not take a full stance, it would surely come back to haunt us.

The Politics of Public Office Appointment
While some commentators have situated their “anti-Osei” argument on her competence, I find it very worrying that, others have decided to wade into the debate with political posturing and correctness, which are unhealthy to the already antagonistic political atmosphere. Though some of the worries of these commentators are legitimate, the timing and context of their arguments are a little off-beat. Since Miss Osei brings to the table a lot of experience and academic qualifications that show she merits such an appointment, it would be helpful not to engage in political bickering. As for those who are using the “too young” debate, as a means to disqualifying her, I want to tell you, age is just a number. How old was Obama, when he ascended to the White House? Or when is the right time for people of her age, to contribute their quota to our development processes? If anything at all, this is the time for people of her age, to impact on lives and their societies. Life they say begins at forty.

Women Public Office Holders as Role Models
Could you imagine how many girls/women have chosen to become lawyers since Her Lordship Georgina-Woods became the Chief Justice? It is even more liberating and inspiring when school-going girls come to the realisation that, it is okay to be aspirational about life. And that, the days when societal norms defined to what extent women could aspire, are long gone. These are the sorts of aspirational pep-talks our girl-children need to hear. It boosts their confidence, and enthusiasm for accomplishment. We do not want a society that tells a girl-child, “it is fine to be aspirational” but then when an opportunity beckons, then we say “wait because you’re a woman”. It is unjust and totally unfair.

The appointment of Mrs. Osei, is but a continuum of the hope we are giving our young girls and women that, it is possible to become “anything” you aspire, irrespective of your sex or gender. After all, a Warrior Princess like Yaa Asantewa has shown us that, being a woman is not a symbol of deficiency. It is only a ticket to daring, ‘even’ in places where misogynistic thinking says only men can succeed.

While I accept that the appointment of some public office holders in Ghana have been informed and influenced by political prerogatives, it is important that, we make every effort to evolve socio-political and governance infrastructures that are accommodative to women’s aspirations. We do not want a society that thinks women only need to be celebrated in private. But when it comes to making them integral to our development discourse, then questions about competence and “fit-for-purpose” are raised just to disqualify them.

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