<<Print>>

Ghana�s next Parliament is set to have the highest number of female representation for the first time since the onset of the Fourth Republic. This is because 28 out of the 133 women who contested the just-ended elections successfully sailed through. The 133 women who contested the election marked a significant improvement over the 103 women who contested in the 2008 elections. The 2008 elections produced 20 female Member of Parliament (MPs). Out of the 133 women aspirants in the 2012 elections, the Greater Accra Region fielded the highest number of 34, followed by the Ashanti and Central regions, which fielded 26 and 15 respectively. The rest are Western, 12; Eastern, 12; Volta, 11; Brong Ahafo, 6; Northern, 7; Upper East and West, 6 and 5 respectively. Even though female MPs like the New Patriotic Party�s (NPP) Catherine Afeku and Samia Yaaba Nkrumah of the Convention People�s s Party (CPP) were casualties, some veterans like Ms Irene Naa Torshie Addo, MP for Tema West; Elizabeth K. Sackey, MP for Okaikwei North; and Gifty Klenam, MP for Lower West Axim held on to their seats. Others were Esther Obeng Dapaah, MP for Abirem; Juliana Azuma-Mensah, MP for Agortime Ziope; Elizabeth Agyeman, MP for Oforikrom; Gifty Eugenia Kusi, MP for Tarkwa Nsuaem; Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, now MP for the newly created Anyaa Sowutuom Constituency; Hanna Tetteh, who has retaken her seat; and Hajia Mary Salifu Boforo, MP for Savelugu, one of the long-serving female MPs. The new entrants include Hannah Bissiw, Deputy Minister of Works and Housing, Ursula Owusu, Freda Prempeh, Ama Pomaa Andoh, Dr. Bernice Heloo, Patricia Appiagyei, Benita Sena Okity-Duah, Abena Osei Asare and Queenstar Pokua Sawyerr. The others include Rachel Florence Appoh, Helen Adjoa Ntoso, Adwoa Safo, Georgina Nkrumah Aboah and Hajia Laadi Ayii Ayamba.