Otiko strikes Bisiw, Benyiwa-Doe

Otiko Afisa Djaba is the National Women Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Ghana

Posted on: www.dailyguideghana.com

By William Yaw Owusu

Thursday July 8, 2010
THE NATIONAL Women’s Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Otiko Afisah Djaba has taken a swipe at two National Democratic Congress (NDC) ministers saying sometimes their utterances “did not augur well for the advancement of women in Ghana”.

She said reactions from the two NDC women namely Dr. Hannah Bisiw, Deputy Minister of Works Housing and Water Resource and Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Central Regional Minister during the altercation between the Vice President’s Aide, John Jinapor and Ursula Owusu, an NPP activist on Metro TV recently were “very unfortunate”

In an interview with DAILY GUIDE in Accra Tuesday, the NPP Women’s Organizer said “following an altercation between Mr. Jinapor and Ursula on a morning TV programme, two female Ministers of State also joined in the fray to wage war on Ursula in a manner that portended to shame all women in politics. My humble plea to all stakeholders is that women should not be their own enemies.”

“My reminder to Ministers of State is that at all times it requires of them to speak with decorum and sensitivity, as well as conduct themselves with dignity befitting the high office they hold in this country”, she said.

“People have high expectations of government and politicians to improve upon their lives rather than deepen their woes. Ministers of state must appreciate the fact that it is a privilege to serve the citizens of Ghana with some level of humility and sensitivity rather than exhibiting arrogance, throwing tantrums and using filthy and foul language on public platform.”

She said the incident that sparked “this gross misconduct between Mr. Jinapor and Ursula is not an NDC/ NPP matter. It is about the dignity and respect of the Ghanaian woman, especially women in politics. However, in the quest to make it an NPP versus NDC issue and to protect the image of the Vice President our two female ministers rather compounded it.”

“As has been said, sometimes, we women are our worst enemies. In my life as a politician, I have heard numerous comments and remarks by women alluding to the fact that they will never vote for other women simply because they are women. We women are just too quick to accept unpalatable labels and are comfortable with baseless characterizations of our gender as quarrelsome, whores, confrontational, ‘bitchy’ and vindictive.”

“It is critical that women prepare themselves adequately to acquit ourselves creditably when we are called upon to assume the leadership positions we aspire to. While men look forward to political office as a natural consequence of being men,

women have to invest greater energy in fighting prejudice, culture, tradition, family and their own gender to make any headway in politics in Ghana.”

“Those of us who have continued to pursue political ambitions know too well what offensive comments we have endured over the years for simply deciding to contribute our quota to the development of our societies. These offensive remarks and jeering comments should not come from women themselves, especially female government officials.”

Ms. Djaba said women in politics must be convinced of the importance of their cause and their inalienable rights as human beings to be accorded equal access and opportunity in governance, politics and the development agenda of the country.

“Women in my opinion have so much to contribute and have such unique qualities to bring to the table that if men and women allow prejudice to scare women from politics, they will be doing the people, who are indeed our children and future generations, a great disservice.”

She said the recent unfortunate incidents in the country’s political discourse have prompted her to seek the support of all stakeholders to curb remarks and actions that might denigrate women in Ghana further and undermine their prominence.

“We are at the doorstep of the celebrating 100 years of the International Women’s Day and we need a leadership that can create opportunities for women and turn them into abilities instead of paying lip service to the advancement of women. In spite of the massive strides that the women of Ghana have achieved in the quest to participate in the management of our national affairs, we still have a very long way to go and very high mountains to conquer.”