Source: All Africa
Is it possible for a female to become president of our nation now or in the near future? In the whole of Africa, there is only one woman sitting president in the person of Madam Sirleaf Johnson of Liberia.
I believe this same situation can occur in Ghana, who knows? Launching her campaign at the AICC on May 4th 2011, Mrs Rawlings said, "our men and husbands have ruled this country for 54 years so let them give the women a chance to also prove our mettle and capability. I therefore urge our women folk to come out in their numbers to support the candidature of Mrs. Rawlings."
At least, I overheard the late MP for Bawku, Hawa Agede Yakubu once drop the hint that she wanted to partner Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo as a running mate, an ambition she harboured till her untimely death a few years ago. The Rawlingses also proposed the candidature of Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu, the current Minister of Education as running mate for Prof. Mills in the 2008 elections. If it had happened, we would have had at first a female vice-president by now.
Going outside Ghana, General Marcus of the Philippines replaced himself with his wife Mrs. Marcus when the general became infirmed and unable to rule. In any case, didn't Bill Clinton propose and support his dearest wife Hilary to take over from him as she fiercely contested the current US leader Barrack Obama in the 2008 American elections?
Unless Ghanaians and the NDC tell us and Mrs. Rawlings that they don't buy the system of 'Effie Akonwa' - that is a dynasty, then I see no beef in ruling out the former first lady for the bid. Well, the same note was struck for Dr. Kwame Addo Kufour during the famous 17 NPP aspirants episode and Prof Mike Oquaye's decision to thrust his son on the people of the Kwabenya constituency that failed.
However, with all things aside, Nana Konadu has all the qualities, pedigrees, mental and physical alertness, qualifications as well as the political knowledge and acumen to lead her party. The only hindrance may be the fact that her dearest husband has sat on the throne before. In case she emerges the flag bearer after the party's congress on July 8th
at Sunyani, what would the party and Ghanaians do or say? After all Mr. Yaw Boateng Gyan, the party's National Organiser has promised to work with her if the delegates decide to choose her or anybody.
Looking at the woman's background, this is the longest serving first lady Ghana has ever had since independence. She formed the women's wing of the NDC during her husband's second coming in 1981 as its president. She rode on the back of this organization to endear herself to women and children of this country. She travelled far and wide to champion the course of women. Her greatest achievement was the push for the promulgation of PNDC Law 111 that gave birth to the re-enactment of Intestate Succession Law that brought a great relief to spouses in Ghana, especially females.
She also brought about the famous Beijing in 1995 'equality' slogan and urged women to stand up for their rights and stand side by side the men folk. She also empowered women to embark on small scale ventures to help their husbands, she set up many small scale local industries and day care centres, etc.
Educationally, she attended Achimota School, KNUST, to study Graphic Design and Applied Art; London School of Arts to study Interior Decoration; GIMPA for Advance Human Resource Management, Administration and Population; the Management Institute for Environment and Afforestation, International Tropical Institution for Family Planning and Delivery.
She is also a senior fellow of John Hopkins University, Baltimore on Policy Studies, she has an Honorary Degree from Lincoln University and fellow of the West Africa College of Nursing and a member of WHO's Global Communication on Women's Health, and many others. Her advocacy role in Ghana cannot be questioned, she stands tall among others.
With her qualifications, experience, knowledge, activism and commitment to contemporary Ghanaian politics it would be naïve on the part of any politician or electorate to underrate the ability and chances of this huge political figure even without the huge frame of her husband behind her.