Members of a group affiliated with the New Patriotic Party (NPP), known as ‘Girls Girls’ have been challenged to develop themselves in readiness for opportunities in the Dr Mahamudu Bawumia administration.

They have been told that through academic and intellectual self-development, they can harness opportunities everywhere they find themselves.

A member of the NPP Communications Team and a former National Women’s Organiser aspirant of the party, Helen Ama Daku who threw the challenge at the maiden meeting of the group's gathering in Accra on September 29, 2024, lauded the current administration for the passage of the Affirmative Action Act indicating that Dr Mahamudu Bawumia when sworn into office as Ghana’s next President, will implement it to provide opportunities for women.

“Women will be given 30% of the opportunities available. If you have a first degree, ensure that you develop yourself because that is the only way you can be prepared for opportunities”. So if it is politics you want to do, you have to start volunteering in your constituency because if he comes there and you are not known there you won’t get these kinds of opportunities,” she noted.

On her part, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Youth Employment Authority (YEA) in charge of Finance and Administration, Lydia Attiemo urged women in politics to create several income streams.

According to her, men in politics always have the upper hand because they create multiple income streams while women are satisfied with just one job.

This she said can be achieved if women support each other just like the men do for themselves.

“Don’t be comfortable with having just one job. Create multiple income streams because in the next five years, you’ll meet the men in politics and they’ll be doing so well but because you were comfortable with your job and had time to chill, you won’t be doing so well and your voice won’t be heard when it comes to decision-making,” she advised NPP’s ‘Girls Girls’

She stressed “So if you’re here today, if our big women are contesting for positions, let’s come together to support them so that when it is your time, you can also get the support. You cannot do politics if you’re broke. If you’re broke your voice won’t be heard.”

The event attracted hundreds of ladies from within the party including female party officials, corporate women, female student groups, female skilled worker groups, female hawker groups and female head porters (Kayayes), among others.

The Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS), Gifty Oware-Mensah who is one of the leaders of the group said “Women play an important role in nation-building. As part of a better nation-building agenda, women must go beyond traditional leadership roles. The purpose of this event is to underpin the importance of women in politics to the development of our nation.

Women have a voice! And our voices must be heard at home, at work, through our political roles and by our votes”.

“The effect of our inclusion at home, at work and in the political space cannot be over-emphasized. This is because women are always mindful of the ripple effect of our actions and inaction. As such, we are known for making well-thought-through choices”, she added.