ABANTU for Development and the Women’s Manifesto Coalition (WMC) have applauded Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, for her sterling performance as the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana.
This recognition celebrates a well-deserved success following her meticulous preparation and conduct of the Presidential and Parliamentary elections held on December 7, 2024. By extension, it is also a triumph for many other Ghanaian women and men, particularly those who believe that gender inclusion and women’s heightened visibility and leadership are critical to national development.
In a press statement signed by the Executive Director of ABANTU for Development, Rose Mensah-Kutin, the advocacy organizations highlighted Mrs. Mensa’s meticulous preparation and execution of the electoral process as a testament to her capacity, efficiency, and strength of character.
The elections, held on December 7, 2024, were lauded not only as a triumph for Ghana’s democratic process but also as a significant achievement in promoting gender inclusion and women’s leadership in national development. The organizations noted that Mrs. Mensa’s leadership reaffirms women’s potential to excel in high-profile roles despite entrenched patriarchal norms’ structural and systemic challenges.
“Mrs. Mensa’s success underscores the critical importance of gender-sensitive leadership in addressing inequalities,” said Rose Mensah-Kutin, Executive Director of ABANTU for Development and the Women’s Manifesto Coalition. “Her leadership of the Electoral Commission, especially during pivotal moments such as the 2020 elections amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrates women’s remarkable contributions in managing key state institutions.”
While celebrating the incremental progress in women’s representation in leadership, the statement lamented the persistent barriers that hinder broader gender parity in governance and public institutions.
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The organizations reiterated their commitment to advocating for systemic changes to dismantle these obstacles and foster inclusivity. ABANTU and the WMC expressed optimism that Mrs. Mensa’s achievements would inspire greater recognition of the value women bring to leadership.
They called on governance and national institutions to prioritize diversity and inclusiveness, emphasizing that such efforts are vital for sustainable development and effective policy implementation.
As Ghana moves forward, the groups urged a collective focus on leveraging women’s leadership to transform lives and build a more equitable society.
“We are confident that Mrs. Mensa will continue to provide a powerful voice in governance,” the statement concluded. “Her dedication sets a benchmark for excellence and inclusivity in leadership, paving the way for future generations.”
ABANTU for Development, a women’s rights advocacy organization established in 1999, emphasized the broader implications of this achievement.
Below is the full statement
ABANTU AND THE WOMEN’S MANIFESTO COALITION CONGRATULATE MRS. JEAN ADUKWEI MENSA, CHAIRPERSON OF THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION IN THE SUCCESSFUL CONDUCT OF THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN GHANA
ABANTU for Development and The Women Manifesto Coalition (WMC) join hands to offer our sincerest congratulations to Mrs. Jean Adukwei Mensa on her sterling performance as the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana. This is indeed in recognition of a well-deserved success following the meticulous preparation and conduct of the Presidential and Parliamentary elections held on the 7th of December, 2024. It is also by extension, a triumph for many other Ghanaian women and men especially those who believe that gender inclusion and women’s heightened visibility and leadership are critical in national development.
ABANTU for Development, as a women’s rights policy advocacy organisation has directed its work since 1999 to examining, scrutinising and interrogating processes that perpetuate structural inequalities and exclusion in national management. The organisation continues to build the capacity of women to participate in decision making at all levels, to enable them influence policies from a gender perspective for equality. ABANTU has therefore worked to support endeavours for the promotion of gender sensitivity in leadership to address issues of inequalities as a matter of right and entitlement. We have always taken pride in the promotion of women to high profile positions knowing that barring structural patriarchal challenges, women largely excel when given a chance in managing critical institutions of state. Mrs. Jean Mensah’s success and leadership around the 2024 elections as she also did in 2020 in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, gives recognition to her capacity, efficiency and strength of character as well as the remarkable work that women are performing in critical state institutions.
We recognise that there has been a nominal increase in the number of women ascending to leadership positions in various sectors of the country. Unfortunately, the structural and systemic limitations, the many challenges and barriers that women in leadership have to contend with, do hinder women’s progression to leadership positions in governance just as it is in other public institutions.
We therefore compliment Mrs. Jean Mensah on her success and send her our best wishes. We are confident that she will remain steadfast and focused in serving the country by providing a powerful voice in the area of governance and in supporting considerations of diversity and inclusiveness.
We continue to work with great optimism that, institutions of governance and other national institutions will recognise the added value that women bring through their effective leadership. In securing the constitutional mandate of the Electoral Commission, we are hopeful that lives will be transformed through the delivery of relevant development policies, programmes and projects in the country.
Rose Mensah-Kutin
Executive Director
ABANTU for Development/
The Women’s Manifesto Coalition
P.O. Box K.D4, Kanda, Accra
December 9, 2024
Source: Isaac Kofi Dzokpo
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