doesn’t believe in gender equality, her actions against women’s rights – Ursula Owusu
Communication Minister, Ursula Owusu Ekuful has downplayed the impact that the appointment of Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress and her possible elevation to the office of Vice President will have on gender equality and women’s empowerment.
According to Ursula Ekuful, the actions of Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang when she was the Minister of Education were against the promotion and protection of women’s rights and indications that she does not share in the belief of gender equality and promotion of women’s rights.
“She (Opoku-Agyemang) does not believe in the gender agenda and I will tell you why. She was the Minister of Education and there are more female teachers and teacher trainees than males. But by her policies, teachers were paid 3 month for 3 years work. Who will that affect the most? The majority of those in that profession being women.
You (Opoku-Agyemang) cancelled the teacher trainee allowances and asked them to go fend for themselves. Several of them dropped out of school. So you took deliberate actions which weakens the purchasing power of women,” she stated in an interview on Accra based Citi FM.
Mrs. Ekuful again argued that the vice presidential candidate’ decision to sign the petition that got the montie trio who had been convicted for contempt of court following their attacks on the Chief Justice who was a female further indicates that she does not believe in gender equality, the promotion and protection of the rights of women.
“When a female Chief Justice and other Supreme Court Justices were viciously attacked, you (Opoku-Agyemang) went and singed a petition that those who did that should be freed,” she added.
The Communication Minister was answering questions on whether she endorses the appointment of Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as vice presidential candidate of the NDC and her possible elevation to the office of vice president since she has advocated for women’s elevation to top decision making positions.
But she stated her advocacy for women to occupy high positions in governance is to further the course of women’s empowerment, promotion and protection of their rights but Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang is not the kind of women to further that course.
On June 6, 2020, more than a year after he was made the NDC’s presidential candidate, John Dramani announced Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as his running mate.
Many especially gender activists applauded the choice of Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang as the main opposition party’s running mate stating that the appointment was significant in ensuring an increase in women’s participation in governance.
