Hajia Alima Mahama yesterday told an audience of female leaders that she had been called a ‘prostitute’ and sent hate mail simply because she was a woman in office. The Minister for Women and Children’s Affairs asked the crowd: “Which of us hasn’t been called a prostitute?” to resounding shouts of agreement. Speaking at the Women in Leadership Forum held by Abantu for Development and the prestigious African Studies Centre of Rutgers University in the United States, Hajia Mahama stressed that despite the challenges, women were beginning to reach office. She as well commended women in politics and civil society for the achievements in passing legislation and urged them to keep striving to push women’s issues. “On the Domestic Violence Bill, we had a strong coalition between civil society and politicians and it had great impact on its passage into law.” She stressed that the New Patriotic Party had gone further than any other in promoting women to leadership positions, including Chief Justice Georgina Wood, the first female Chief Justice on the continent, and Chief Advisor to the President, Mary Chinery-Hesse, “but we have not attained the equality we deserve.” Speaking about the positive media response to the possibility that she may be on the NPP ticket in December, Hajia Mahama said: “My very humble self, if I’m give the opportunity, it would not be fair to the women of Ghana for me to consider even saying ‘no’.” The forum was part of the Women Leadership and Economic Empowerment initiative spearheaded by the Business Council for International Understanding, SW Global and Abantu for Development. Founded in 1998, Abantu for Development focuses on the role female leaders play in policy making. Professor Abena Busia, head of the African Studies Centre at Rutgers University, said: “This is a significant election year in both the US and Ghana, and I felt it would be good to gather women from around Ghana with a woman who has held office,” she said referring to US assembly woman Bonnie Watson Coleman. Mrs. Watson Coleman, the Majority Leader in the New Jersey State assembly, was the first woman and second African American to hold the office. In an address, Senator Watson Coleman told the audience: “Women are the stewards of families, from us comes the greatest minds. “But when it comes to making decisions about who should govern the world, the most accomplished of our species, women, are excluded. “There is an embarrassing parallel cycle we must end. It is unfortunate that sexism is persistent, and that there is a lack of women in leadership positions. It may seem daunting, but there is no more important a fight.” She stressed that when women made decisions, men were often ‘direct beneficiaries of women’s vision and actions.’ Looking directly at Hajia Alima Mahama, she stressed: “Women must run for elected office, seek appointed office and vote in every election. We must seek to move outside our comfort zones, and we must know where the next woman world leader will come from.” Source: Daily Guide