Womanhood is something which is so much glorified in the Holy Catholic Church, the only Church founded by Jesus Christ. Here a Woman, called Mary, is held in high esteem and honoured for accepting the Will of God and given birth to our Salvation. The beauty of her soul, her incomprehensible acts of humility, and her unquenchable desire to help all humans, are reasons why she is honoured that high.
It is in this vein that a true Catholic is always very careful about what they do to or say about women. So, in talking about the woman of the moment, Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang, I must be guided by this fundamental Catholic principle and be careful of what I say, and how I say them.
In the first place, I think those belonging to my party, the Great New Patriotic Party (NPP), who said or are saying unnecessary things about this woman should cease and try and offer some apology. Oh yes, she can be president, and maybe a better one than some presidents and prime ministers, including the United Kingdom, who were semi-educated or drop-outs. Oh yes, she can attract attention and have people stepping over themselves just to greet and wave at her as she walks the streets of the capital. Her looks and mannerisms are worthy to be used to market this nation, if ever she becomes president.
My NPP may be hooked unto a digressional path by the appointment of Prof Naana Opoku-Agyemang, and so long as the party spends valuable time casting insults at her, the more floating voters will be walking to the other side. This is the time to stay focused and shout our achievements from the rooftops, and, if even necessary, point of the wrongs that Prof Opoku-Agyemang has done in her public life. Personality attacks will not help at all.
In 2008, when victory was all but won, the NPP was caught on hook with a digressional approach from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), when some members defected and formed the Democratic Freedom Party (DFP). While we were rejoicing that the NDC was now limping and so cannot reach the finish line, this party was seriously putting its acts together. We were then in power, and we are in power, now. Prof Naana Opoku-Agyemang could be bait. And one thing, apart from Madam Frances Essiam who joined the NPP, all members of the DFP went back to rejoin the NDC.
The ruling New Patriotic Party could have left the fight about the eligibility of Prof Opoku-Agyemang to the NDC, since, as at now, some strong elements of that party, especially in the Volta Region, are up in arms and very determined to have her replaced. This should not be our fight, it is a family feud.
In my opinion, there are two things which, if strongly addressed, can make John Dramani Mahama limp during this election, and both have got to do with his choice of running mate. Social media have since her appointment been recalling her stating reasons for scrapping teacher trainee allowances, quoting her as saying: “We don’t want people to go into colleges of education because there is free money…” So what becomes of teacher trainees from poor backgrounds who will do with a little help?
The other serious thing that could hinder this NDC ticket is the endorsement by Prof Naana Opoku-Agyemang to have released from jail, the Montie-3 who had, among other things, threatened the lives of justices of the Supreme Court and vowed to even rape the then Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Woods. And, mind you, three judges were institutionally killed during the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) era.
The NDC is explaining this away that as a mother she was moved by the remorse of the jailed young men and with pity she endorsed their release. But that is the issue here, because if such young men could mean such threats on women in the Supreme Court, one day they could turn it on any woman, if even she is an NDC member like Prof Naana Opoku-Agyemang. There are many who are in jail for making less threatening remarks.
Now, having talked about the threat on womanhood by the NDC, which was pardoned by running mate Prof Naana Opoku-Agyemang, I would advise this largest opposition party not to make any noise about how it had uplifted women empowerment with the appointment of a female running mate. After all, there were many female running mates before her.
The records of the very roots of the NDC, namely Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) and PNDC, and records of the NDC itself, clearly show a disregard for women. In fact, as I write this opinion, there are many in the NDC who are bent on replacing her, because she is a woman.
During the AFRC days, women were institutionally raped, and some were made to strip naked and forced to expose their dignities in public. A market center where women earn their daily bread to feed themselves and family, and pay all bills was demolished. And women were denied their husbands who were shot dead for excuses that they had acquired property. Is JJ around?
During the PNDC era, atrocities against womanhood continued, when, at least, on one sad occasion a baby who was suckling her mother’s breast had it plucked from her toothless mouth, and her mother was led away and shot dead.
During the NDC era, among wicked deeds towards womanhood was when, within its own camp, a woman and party official, Madam Francis Essiam, was rudely assaulted for deciding to support a candidate other than the choice of Rawlings.
While the NPP recognised the value and importance of women and so set up the Women’s Ministry and even boosted up the percentage of women representation in Parliament, appointing the first woman Chief of Staff and many other deeds to honour womanhood, the NDC was, and is, crushing women under its soldier boots.
The NDC must be humble about things if it has now realised the value of women.
Hon Daniel Dugan
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Chronicle’s editorial stance
The post The Glorification of a Woman appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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