30 Women go to Parliament

Article: Rebecca Quaicoe-Duho
The number of female representation in Parliament has increased from 19 to 30 in the just-ended parliamentary elections. This constitutes an increase from the current 8.7 per cent in the 230-member Parliament to 10.5 per cent in the yet-to be inaugurated sixth parliament of the Fourth Republic, January 2013.
The two major political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have increased their female representations in parliament. While the ruling NDC increased its members by nine, the NPP, however, increased by just one.
In the 2008 Parliament, the NDC had five women but today the party is being represented by 14 women in the House, while the number of women in the 2008 Parliament was increased from 14 to 15 after this year’s December 7 elections.
Out of the five old parliamentarians, Mrs Juliana Azuma-Mensah formerly MP for Ho East who has been in the House since January 2005 was re-elected as MP for the newly created Agotime Ziope and Hajia Mary Salifu Boforo, MP for Savelugu who has been in the House since January 1997 also retained the seat for the fourth consecutive time.

Mary Boforo, MP

Hajia Rafatu Halutie Dubie Alhassan, MP Sissala East; Ms Akua Sena Dansua, MP North Dayi and Mrs Elizabeth Amoah-Tetteh, MP Twifo-Atii Morkwaa are not going back to the House as they lost their parties primaries.
The NDC is bringing into the House new faces such as Dr Hanna Louisa Bisiw, Deputy Minister for Water Resources Works and Housing; Ms Queenstar Pokua Sawyerr, Agona East; Ms Rachel Florence Appoh, Gomoa Central; Ms Helen Adjoa Ntoso, Krachi West and Ms Georgina Nkrumah Aboah, Asikuma Odoben Brakwa.
Others are Mrs Benita Sena Okity-Duah, Ledzokuku; Dr Mrs Bernice Adiku Heloo, Hohoe; Ms Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah, Ada; Ms Hanna Tetteh one-time MP in the third parliament is coming back as MP for newly created Awutu Senya West and Hajia Laadi Ayii Ayamba, Pusiga.
The rest are Sulamana Alijata, Sissala East and Ms Dellah Sowah, Kpando.
The NPP also lost a number of its ‘old hands’ and will send to the House new faces including Ms Freda Prempeh, Tano North, Ms Ama Pomaa Andoh, Juaben, Ms Patricia Appiagyei, Asokwa; Ms Ursula Owusu, Ablekuma West and Ms Abena Osei Asare, Atiwa East.
Others are Ms Adwoa Safo, Dome/Kwabenya and Ms Rosemond Comfort Abrah, Weija.
The NPPs ‘old hands’ who are going back to the House are Ms Esther Obeng Dapaah who has been in the House since January 2005 as MP for Abirem; Ms Gifty Klenam, MP for Lower West Akim since January 2009; Ms Grace Addo, formerly MP for Amansie West but now MP for the newly created Manso Nkwanta Constituency; Gifty Eugenia Kusi, Tarkwa Nsuaem has been an MP since January 2001; Elizabeth Agyeman, Oforikrom MP since January 2005 and Ms Elizabeth Sackey, Okaikwei North who has been in the House since January 2005, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey is currently the MP for Anyaa Sowutuom but has been in the House as MP for Weija since January 2005 and Ms Irene Naa Torshie Addo, MP Tema West since January 2009.

Gifty Eugenia Kusi, MP

The MPs who are not returning to the House are Mrs Gifty Ohene-Konadu, MP for Asante-Akim South who lost in her party’s primaries, Ms Cecilia Abena Dapaah MP Bantama did not contest, Ms Beatrice Bernice Boateng, MP New Juabeng South also lost in her party’s primaries, Mrs Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, MP for Ayawaso West-Wuogon and Mrs Catherine Abelema Afeku, MP Evalue-Gwira.
The CPPs only MP, Ms Samia Yaba Christiana Nkrumah, MP for Jomoro, also lost her seat after serving for one term.