Gladys Asmah Nana’s Veep
The list of possible running mates to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is growing by the day, with new names dropping for the highly coveted position even as the search party, set up to screen the contenders, intensifies its work.
The latest entrant in the running mate “contest” is Mrs. Gladys Asmah, Minister of Fisheries and MP for Takoradi who was the first woman Deputy Minority Leader when the party was in opposition.
Mrs. Asmah, who enters the race with a track record of women mobilization and good human relations, is ready to complement Nana Addo to deliver one-touch victory to the NPP.
Even though the three-term MP for Takoradi has not openly spoken about her interest in the No. 2 job, her supporters think that she is the best deal for the NPP, not minding her age.
They cited her ethic background and mobilisation drive as her trump card.
According to the Minister's supporters, she has an unparalleled record of women mobilization in the country, having been the pioneer Minister of Women and Children's Affairs.
“Indeed she was the brain behind the establishment of MOWAC, which today has been replicated in other parts of Africa,” they argued.
Mrs. Asmah, who is not seeking re-election in the December 7, 2008 parliamentary election, is a crusader of women empowerment, having supervised the disbursement of over ¢120 billion under the Women Development Fund launched in 2001 when she was the Minister of Women and Children's Affairs.
The micro-credit given to the women has today propelled them from the shackles of poverty to prosperity with the shout of “obatan pa” (sweet mother) on their lips.
She was able to resettle a number of children sold into child labour with their families under a programme code-named, “Operation Bring the Children Home”.
Most of these children were engaged in the fishing business in Yeji in the Brong Ahafo Region and other fishing communities.
After successfully piloting the Women and Children's Affairs Ministry, Mrs. Asmah was appointed by President John Agyekum Kufuor to head another newly created ministry, the Ministry of Fisheries.
With the new ministry taking shape, the woman with the “Midas Touch” has already spearheaded aggressive aquaculture, with over 6000 fish farms across the country.
She is in the process of establishing fishing harbours in certain communities to increase productivity along the costal belt as well as other fishing communities.
When contacted, all she was able to say was “I have a heart to serve my nation, and I'm ready to serve.”
Born on October 16, 1936 in Cape Coast, Mrs. Asmah attended Wesley Girls Primary School, and Ghana National College, Cape Coast before proceeding to Henden College of Technology, London in 1963.
Between 1964 and 1966, she attended Leeds College of Education and Home Economics where she bagged a diploma in Home Economics.
An entrepreneur of high repute, Mrs. Asmah has been a board member of various organizations including a Vice President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI).