Accra:The Progressive Organisation for Women’s Advancement (POWA) has come to the defense of Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang amid criticism concerning her role in addressing issues affecting women and girls in Ghana.
According to Ghana Web, POWA emphasized that the Vice President should not be solely responsible for every challenge affecting women simply because she is Ghana’s first female Vice President. The organization pointed out that her leadership should be evaluated based on her broader national responsibilities.
POWA, through a statement by its Founder and President, Victoria Lakshmi Hamah, highlighted that while protecting the rights of women and girls is a national priority, Opoku-Agyemang’s gender should not restrict her leadership to those concerns alone. The organization affirmed that her position should open more opportunities for women across all sectors rather than confine them to gender-specific issues.
Furthermore, POWA acknowledged the importance of women leaders in promoting gender equality and protecting vulnerable groups but stressed that this responsibility must be shared among various institutions and stakeholders. The organization cited several institutions, including the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit, as having mandates to address issues affecting women and vulnerable persons.
POWA urged the public to differentiate between expecting national leaders to support women's rights and holding one individual accountable for every incident involving women and girls. They asserted that Vice President Opoku-Agyemang, like other public officials, should be subject to scrutiny based on evidence and the responsibilities of her office.
In conclusion, POWA called on political parties to prioritize the protection and advancement of women above partisan interests and to promote a political culture where women leaders are fairly assessed, and institutions are held accountable.