Mustapha Gbande backs ‘John and Jane’ for diversity in leadership

Mustapha Gbande, the Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), highlighted the significance of Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang’s appointment as John Mahama’s running mate for the 2024 election, emphasizing its alignment with affirmative action principles.

The decision to retain Prof. Opoku-Agyemang as the running mate was officially announced at the party’s Adabraka office on March 7, 2024, garnering widespread approval within the party.

During an appearance on TV3’s Ghana Tonight program, Gbande praised the ‘John and Jane’ ticket as the optimal choice for the NDC in the upcoming elections, particularly noting the importance of having a woman on the ticket to promote affirmative action.

He underscored the relevance of gender representation in leadership roles, especially in addressing current societal challenges.

Gbande also criticized the incumbent Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government for failing to take accountability for the country’s economic hardships, contrasting this with the NDC’s commitment to addressing national issues responsibly under the leadership of John Mahama and Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang.

He emphasized the need for leaders who uphold their promises and take ownership of challenges faced by the nation.

The discussion around affirmative action in Ghana highlighted the long-standing efforts to pass the Affirmative Action Bill, initially drafted in 2011 to address gender equality and rectify gender imbalances in public sector representation.

Despite its potential benefits, the bill has yet to be enacted into law after more than a decade.