Irene Naa Torshie Addo-Lartey
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is under an increasing pressure to pick a female as the running mate to Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, the party’s flagbearer for the 2024 general elections.
The latest person to add her voice to the call is Executive Director of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Ghana), Susan Aryeetey.
Mrs. Aryeetey said FIDA-Ghana is on a mission to lobby all political parties in the country, especially the NPP and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to nominate women as their running mates to rewrite the country’s democratic history and break political barriers.
“FIDA-Ghana is not suggesting that women should always be relegated to running mates. However, it is important to start this inclusive process because the ultimate is to see a female presidential nominee of a political party voted as president, as witnessed in other countries such as Tanzania and Ethiopia,” she added.
The NDC has already selected a female, in the person of Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, as running mate to partner former President John Mahama for the 2024 polls. The party contested with same pair in 2020.
The focus on the women as running mates campaign therefore falls on the incumbent NPP, as it is the only major political party yet to select a running mate.
Meanwhile, the NPP is trailing as the only main party that has never picked a female running mate. The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has selected two women, the late Eva Lokko in 2012 and Ms. Bridget Dzogbenuku in 2016.
The Convention People’s Party (CPP) also selected Nana Akosua Frimpomaa Sarpong II as its running mate in 2012.
Two females whose names have been widely reported as likely picks for running mate in the NPP for this year’s general elections are the Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare and Irene Naa Torshie Addo-Lartey.
Chief of Staff, Madam Frema who turns 77 this year, is a former Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency.
The other strong contender is 53-year-old Irene Naa Torshie Addo-Lartey. She is currently the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund. She was a Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and former MP for Tema West.
Irene Naa Torshie Addo is a distinguished lawyer and seasoned politician. Holding a Master’s Degree in Law and Development from the University of Warwick, specialising in Gender and Development Studies, she boasts a strong foundation in Law and Governance.
She served as Deputy Ambassador to the Embassy of Ghana in Washington DC, USA, before assuming her current role as Member of Parliament for Tema West.
Naa Torshie is an Evangelist and lay preacher. She has planted several churches and championed the pilgrimage of over 2,000 Christians to Israel since 2010.
She is committed to promoting gender equality, human rights, youth and economic development, leveraging her expertise in real estate, trade, and investment law.
FIDA-Ghana noted in the statement, “It is a shame that after 66 years of independence, Ghana has had no woman vice president,” and has accordingly issued a statement that called on all political parties contesting the 2024 general elections to ensure that women are elected as running mates, because a female vice president is long overdue in the country.
A Daily Guide Report