By: Nicholas Osei-Wusu
Flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress, John Mahama has announced new and more impactful policies and laws meant to address the health, reproductive and economic concerns of women in the country toward gender inclusivity and equity.
Among such policy proposals are an enactment of Property Rights of Spouses, Domestic Workers’ law as well as a Market Enhancement programme to provide decent trading Centres for traders and hawkers in commercially viable cities and towns in the country.
Mr. Mahama made these known in KUMASI at the launch of the Women’s Manifesto of the NDC ahead of the December 7 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
The Women’s Manifesto is a document containing the major campaign and manifesto promises of the NDC for implementation if the party assumes the reigns of government after the December 7 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
The document contains extracts from th main Manifesto of the party.
The Kumasi Women’s Manifesto launch was attended also by members of the women with disability, traders and some female traditional leaders.
Some prominent female activists of the party gave exposition in some of the thematic areas of the main Manifesto that Centre on the welfare of women in the country.
The leader of a delegation from the Kumasi Market commonly called Kejetia Market or Kumasi Dubai which was built by the John Mahama government, Nana Pokuaa, on behalf of the traders apologized to the former President for the ingratitude they showed to him and his party during the 2016 and 2020 elections and said, they have been greatly disappointed by the NPP government they have always shown loyalty to, to advance development of the region.
A medical expect and NDC’s Parliamentary Candidate for the Esikado-Ketam Constituency in the Western region, Professor Grace Ayensu, she’d more light on the Party’s plans for women health and reproductive involving a proposed fertility centre, pediatric Hospital and menstrual health of females.
The Running Mate of the party, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang, explained that the proposed specialized Women’s Bank by the party is meant to provide accessible and affordable credit facilities to women to establish or grow their business to become economically independent.
The Flag bearer, John Mahama, announced that the NDC plans to enact some laws and introduce new policies toward gender mainstreaming, equity and empowerment.
Among such proposals are the passage of the Property Rights of Spouses, Domestic Workers’ law as well as an amendment to the Intestate Succession law to address identified gaps.
All these are geared toward enabling women assume their rightful positions at the high table of national decision making in the country.
Mr. Mahama disclosed that, his future government would provide 20 million Dollar equivalent of seed money for the establishment of the proposed Women’s Bank within the first 120 days upon assumption of office.
His government would as well establish what has been christened ‘Adwumawura’ project to assist the youth set themselves up in vocational and agro Business.
