By Deborah Pofara Luu
Member of Parliament for Ada and Deputy Majority Whip, Hon. Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe emphasized her lifelong commitment to women’s empowerment during an exclusive interview on GTV’s breakfast show. Reflecting on her journey, she stated: “Ever since before coming to parliament, I always advocate for women, because I realized that women always feel shy, reluctant, and want to dodge some name-calling. So, because of that, when you are pushing women, they want to go back, but I always tell people to use me as an example.”
Cudjoe who has represented Ada since 2013, highlighted her resilience in overcoming societal skepticism. “When I took the decision that I’m coming to parliament with all the obstacles, I just make sure I ignore all the noise-making and focus on what I’m doing, and today, I’m here,” she asserted.
Addressing educational expectations, she challenged the notion that political leadership requires advanced degrees: “Anytime you want to assume higher office, people feel you should be somebody that have a master’s certificate, degree, and etc., meaning you should have titles like professor, doctor, and the rest.”
The MP, who holds a diploma in stenography and a certificate in radio/TV presentation, underscored her humble beginnings. “I’m just an ordinary person; my mother is an illiterate, my father is an illiterate. My mother is a trader in the market, and I was trained in the market—that’s where I managed to have my diploma.”
She emphasized transparency with her constituents: “I always wanted to climb higher to be in parliament, and people feel why should I be there, but I have never lied to my people. I told them this is what I have, I showed them my grades, and they feel comfortable with it, so I should go.”
Cudjoe a National Democratic Congress member and former Minister of State under President John Mahama, concluded by reaffirming her focus on grassroots support: “Once my people have approved that I should go, I’m not looking anywhere.
They can mock, shout, and laugh at me—I’m still not looking elsewhere.” Her remarks align with her decades-long advocacy for gender equity and education, including initiatives like distributing computers and desks to schools in her constituency.
