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The Member of Parliament (MP) representing Dome Kwabenya, Sara Adwoa Safo, has voiced her objections to the language used in the national pledge, citing gender bias concerns.
During a spirited debate in parliament, Adwoa Safo advocated for the inclusion of “foremothers” alongside “forefathers” in the pledge to acknowledge the significant contributions of women to the country’s history.
This debate was prompted by the adoption of new Standing Orders in Parliament, which include the recitation of the national pledge at the beginning of each weekly sitting to foster patriotism and unity among members.
Former Minister for Gender, Women and Children, Adwoa Safo, criticized the use of “forefathers” as “gender insensitive,” arguing that it overlooks the invaluable role of women in the country’s development throughout history.
In response to her concerns, Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, highlighted that the wording of the pledge is entrenched in the constitution, suggesting that any changes would require a constitutional amendment.
Among the notable changes introduced by the Standing Orders is the establishment of Economic Planning Committees, branching from the Finance committee.
Additionally, MPs will now have their attendance recorded by the Speaker at the start of each parliamentary session, leading to concerns raised by some MPs regarding the practical implications of this new system.
MP for Wa West, Peter Toobu, questioned the fairness of being marked absent in plenary sessions despite being present at committee meetings.
Speaker Bagbin assured MPs that the roll call was necessary to maintain minimum attendance requirements but hinted at the possibility of introducing an electronic clocking system in the future to streamline the process.
