Ida Asiedu
The newly elected parliamentary candidate for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ayensuano constituency of the Eastern Region, Ida Adjoa Asiedu, has called for deliberate efforts on the part of the state and political parties to improve the participation of women in the politics of the country.
She noted that achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 requires deliberate efforts by all stakeholders. SDG 5 aims to ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life by 2030.
Speaking to the Daily Statesman after her victory over the weekend, Ms Asiedu, who beat competition from four men, said allowing men and women to compete on the same pedestal without considering all the impediments that hinder the growth of women would further delay the fight for equality and equity.
Admitting that leadership roles should not be given to women just because of their gender, at the expense of experience and qualification, she indicated that societal challenges that impede on women’s development should also not be relegated to the background.
She has therefore pledged to make women’s empowerment, fight for equality, and passage of the Affirmative Action Bill a priority should she win the 2024 parliamentary election.
Recapture
Meanwhile, she has assured members of the NPP of her readiness not to be intimidated by her gender but to work hard to recapture the parliamentary seat for the NPP in the next election.
The 40-year-old businesswoman indicated that the work ahead would be a difficult one, and would require all hands on deck to win the seat. She has therefore promised to bring all aspirants who contested in the primaries on board for a successful campaign.
Highlighting some of her plans, Ms Asiedu indicated that even before becoming a Member of Parliament for the area, she had been constructing roads in the area with her resources. She noted that her commitment to the development of the area led her to establish a shoe processing factory which is about 73 per cent complete. The factory, when completed, would create about 300 direct jobs and 500 indirect jobs. She added that she would prioritise the development of the area for the constituent to have trust in her and make winning the seat an easy one for the NPP.
Ms Asiedu beat competition from four men, who included a three-term former MP, Samuel Ayeh-Paye, a Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Arts and Culture, Mark Okraku-Mantey, and two others.
She polled 410 votes, with Mark Okraku-Mantey coming a distant second with 136, while Samuel Ayeh-Paye polled 105. One Ernest and Kingsly Boateng polled four and three votes, respectively, coming fourth and fifth in the race.
