The Minister for Communications and Digitalization, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has expressed the belief that the aspiration of having a female president leading Ghana can only become a reality through the participation of the two primary political parties: the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
During an interview on UTV’s Mpu Ne Mpu show, the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West observed that the country is approaching a stage where citizens are increasingly open to electing a woman as their leader.
However, she emphasized that this can only materialize if the major political parties actively present female candidates. She attributed this limitation to the dominance of the two major parties in the political landscape and the challenge faced by smaller political parties in securing substantial votes during elections.
“There will come a time when Ghana gets a female President. There will come a time. We are getting there. I said this when Paa Kwesi Nduom was contesting. We went to an event and I represented NPP and we were discussing the progress of women in politics. I said that there must come a time when the two largest political parties provide us females as their running mates to help us reach the dream of a woman being president.
“If you are in these up and coming political parties, your chances of winning the elections are slim but if it is not NPP, then it is NDC. That’s what our politics is looking like. So if NPP or NDC brings a female running mate and win the election, then we get a female Vice President.
“So let us think about it. It’s been over a decade since I said that,” she said.
Ghana has had numerous opportunities to have a female President or Vice President, however, these individuals, such as Akua Donkor, founder and leader of Ghana Freedom Party (GFP) and Brigitte Dzogbenuku of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), who belong to the ‘minor’ political parties have been denied by electorates.
It appeared that the country was ready when former President John Dramani Mahama presented former Education Minister Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang as his running mate during the 2020 general elections, but the NDC lost the elections to the NPP.
Currently, the flagbearers of the two major political parties, John Mahama of the NDC and Dr Mahamudu Bawumia of the NPP are yet to announce who their running mates will be.
Meanwhile, Communications Minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful is said to be part of a list purportedly unveiling a roster of individuals eyeing the NPP’s running mate slot.
The unverified compilation consists of names like Chief of Staff, Frema Opare; Roads Minister, Kwasi Amoako Atta; Communications Minister, Ursula Owusu; Energy Minister, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Education Minister, Yaw Osei Adutwum, among others.
But Ursula-Owusu Ekuful, says she has had no conversations with Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia about being his running mate for the 2024 general elections.
According to Mrs Ursula-Ekuful, she has had several conversations with the Vice President, however, they have all focused on Ghana’s digital drives and the measures to be taken to make the lives of Ghanaians better.
“I have had numerous discussions with Dr Bawumia, but we have not talked about the running mate position. We have work to do. I’d want us to leave him to select his own running mate. He should take his time to find someone he wants. We have been talking about what we need to do this year to help citizens and our chances as a party,” she said.