Women's Loss, Everyone's Loss

Tuesday, August 24 this year marked a turning point in Ghana following the death of the country’s illustrious President and leader, Professor John Evans Atta Mills.

The huge gathering of mourners during the three-day state funeral and burial ceremonies for the late president, was arguably the biggest assembly of Ghanaians for any outdoor event.

The expressions of grief and outpourings of tears were really touching. But, by far, it was the cry and wailing of Ghanaian women that really lent a feeling of tragic loss to the occasion.

Traditionally, Ghanaian women have been known to cry at funerals. This time, perhaps, there was a parting message they were delivering to the late president to thank him for improving on womens participation in decision making and public life in Ghana, even though it is still yet to catch up with men.

Today, there are many women in commanding heights of the society. Among some the women in high public positions of trust include the Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood; Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Joyce Adeline Bamford Addo; Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman; Head of the Commision for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mrs Lauretta Vivian Lamptey and the Chairperson of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mrs Charlotte Kesson-Smith Osei.

These high public positions were previously occupied by men.

Furthermore, in his desire to increase women’s participation in governance, the late President John Atta Mills appointed a number of them to ministerial and deputy ministerial portfolios including one-time Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu; one-time Minister of Information, Mrs Zita Okaikoi; Minister for Tourism, Ms Akua Sena Dansua; Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, Mrs Juliana Azuma-Mensah and Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Ms Sherry Ayittey.

Others are the Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa Doe; Deputy Minister for Water Resources Works and Housing, Dr Hannah Louisa Bissiw; Deputy Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs, Hajia Hawawu Gariba Boya and Deputy Minister of Transport, Mrs Dzifa Attivor.

The late President may have come to the recognitioon that to move the country forward and ensure her holistic development, it was important to provide an equal and even playing field for the women of Ghana who form more than half of the population.

In Ghana, Affirmative Action which according to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy refers to positive steps taken to increase the representation of women and minorities in areas of employment, education, and business from which they have been historically excluded, has been used since independence to address gender and regional imbalances in education, health, work and political representation.

At this moment in the nation's history while some improvements have been made, there is still more work to be done in support of making women enjoy the same opportunities as men without them being subjected to harassment or intimidation.

The late President John Atta Mills found a way to catch the eye of competent, skillful and highly qualified women to help him govern the country. It is hoped subsequent governments will build on it.