Affirmative Action Bill before parliament ‘bad’ – Haruna Iddrisu

Haruna Iddrisu, Member of Parliament for Tamale South, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the Affirmative Action Bill currently before parliament.

He argues that the bill’s content does not specifically address issues relevant to Ghana, but instead focuses more on matters in other countries.

Mr Iddrisu voiced his concerns while speaking at the 15th MTN Pulse Africa Transform Summit in Kumasi on Saturday.

He encouraged women to aspire but also to manage their aspirations.

“I have seen Ghana struggle to pass an affirmative action bill. I told the minister the other time that the bill in its form and character is a bad law. Bad law.

“So sometimes you wonder if we read what we bring to parliament. Bad law. Yes, Ghana needs an affirmative action law, but you are comparing Ghana to Rwanda or Uganda or Eritrea.”

“Have you gone there to see how their constitution and their laws have worked for them? In Rwanda and in Uganda there is representation of women based on appointment. Ghana you say competitive election. The women are too shy to do competitive elections. They don’t have the money,” he stated.

Mr Iddrisu further lamented that the country’s democracy has been reduced to a ‘monecracy’, a system where the highest bidder holds sway.

He confessed to being a part of this system and urged the youth to speak out against it.

“We have reduced our democracy to monecracy. Here it is now about who pays more and who is the highest bidder. That is wrong and young people you must speak about it even though I am an actor of it.

“When my generation started, it was not about how much money you brought to a polling station and how much you paid. In fact, I used to borrow a motorbike to campaign. Today I am not sure a candidate on a motorbike will be accepted. So, speak out and speak out for the good of the country,” he stated.