50% WOMEN REPRESENTATION IS DIFFICULT BUT ACHIEVABLE, SAYS COMMONWEALTH WOMEN’S CHAIR

By Ebenezer Hanson

The Chairperson of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians, Hon. Lindiwe Maseko, recognizes that although the road to the attainment of 50 per cent women representation in decision-making bodies in Commonwealth African countries is rough and bumpy, it is an achievable objective.

“It is not an easy task to achieve this objective but if we are united and committed to the issue of women empowerment we will be able to reach our objectives. Because I believe that women are as much capable as men.”

Hon Maseko, who is participating in the 37th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region Conference currently underway in Accra, was speaking in an exclusive interview with the Public Agenda. Participants were yesterday expected to deliberate on the topic, “The 50-50 Women Representation in Decision-making Bodies: Is CPA Africa Ready?”

The theme for the 14-day conference, which runs from July 23-August 5 with eighteen countries in attendance, is “Health and Vitality for Development –Parliament at the Forefront of the Global Fight Against HIV/AIDS and Poverty.

Hon. Maseko revealed that in South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC) as a political party has been able to achieve 50 per cent women representation in local government system and therefore it is possible for other countries to do likewise. She said the ANC Policy Document, which makes 50 per cent women representation mandatory, and the practice of the Proportional Representation electoral system in her country, are the two factors that served as catalyst to the realization of this dream.

“Under the Proportional Representation System, we campaign and vote for the party and not individuals, and this enables women to be mainstreamed through the process”

Ghana practices the First Past the Post electoral system in which the electorate votes for individuals and not for political parties.

In addition to electoral systems and parties’ policies, Hon Maseko cited the patriarchal system of inheritance, socialization, the mindset of the African and limited resources as some of the factors that hinder women from participating fully in decision-making bodies.

Notwithstanding these obstacles, she believes that Southern African countries like South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania and Lesotho are ready for the 30 per cent representation of women in decision-making bodies.


She recalled that in 1997, Commonwealth Heads of States and Governments agreed that by 2005, their respective countries must at least ensure 30 per cent representation of women in decision-making bodies. In 2004, the Heads of States and Governments extended the year for the attainment of the set objective from 2005 to 2015.

The formation of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians group, Hon Maseko further disclosed, was a response to the realisation of the lesser numbers of women Parliamentarians that participate in CPA meetings and fewer numbers of women Parliamentarians Commonwealth countries.

As Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians, Hon. Maseko says her duties consist of constantly reminding the Heads of Governments of the need to work towards the realisation of the 30 per cent representation in institutions; organising gender workshop to conscientise the CPA especially men; and to help with the implementation of programmes to achieve the 30 per cent women representation target.

Following the 1995 epochal international women conference in Beijing in which strong advocacy was made for women empowerment; there has been a blitz of seminars, workshops, and conferences calling for affirmative action in women representation in institutions and participation in political processes.

Liberia last year elected a female president in the person of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. Ghanaian female Parliamentarians have staked a claim in the Presidency saying that Ghana, like Liberia, is ripe for a female president. Currently, there are 25 females in Ghana’s 230-member Parliament.

Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital, is relishing the celebration of the festival of the legendary Yaa Asantewaa, Queen mother of Ejisu who later was acclaimed Africa’s first female General.

The nine-day festival, which begun July 28 and ends August 5, is under the theme, “Celebrating the Heroism of the African Woman.” The festival is reminiscing the exploits of Yaa Asantewaa against the British during the Yaa Asantewaa War of 1990-1901.