Female police officers are asking government to do more for them to rise through the ranks of the Police Service.
COP, Maame Yaa Tiwah Addo-Danquah, the Director-General of Welfare in the Ghana Police Ladies Association (POLA), said out of 39,055 of the entire police population, women form 10,909 representing 27.93% in the entire force.
She stated that currently, only 1.1 per cent of women represent commanding positions in the Service.
COP Maame Tiwa said this when members of the Association called on the Interior Deputy Minister, Naana Eyiah Quansah, at the Ministry in Accra.
The conference was to applaud her on her appointment as the first woman Deputy Interior Minister and plead with the government to increase the number of female officers in commanding positions to motivate women.
COP Maame Tiwaa said she was happy about the number but dissatisfied that only a small number occupied top positions at the Police Management Board, regional, divisional, district commanders though they are eligible.
Speaking at a conference COP, Maame Addo-Danquah presented a petition to Naana Eyiah Quansah to urge government to increase the number of women in high positions.
“We are asking and pleading that you consider women for command positions; the United Nations is advising that the gender parity in every country should be 40 per cent women and 60 per cent men. But, currently, we are 28 per cent.
“In the last passing out of the recruits, there were 34 per cent women, and we are very grateful to government as this is the highest number of women who have passed out since 1952.
“We are making a conscious effort for the women to work hard to justify their inclusion into the Service, so Deputy Minister, we are capable,” she said.
She further stated that the Ghana Police Ladies Association are capable of taking up commanding positions.
“All the women who are holding positions are doing extremely well, and I think if we increase the number, it can make a whole lot of difference.
“We are here so that you can influence policy for the women to be given a chance to contribute our quota to the country’s development and security management,” COP Maame Tiwa said.
On her part, the Deputy Minister of Interior, Naana Elias Quansah, speaking to Joy News, assured the Ghana Police Ladies Association to ensure a change in the Police Service.
“There is a saying that if you leave something for a woman, she takes better care more of it than the men. But, of course, we are not saying the men are not good, but we know our situation as mothers, so I know the minister is going to do something about it.
“The power is not in my hand, but I can speak to the Minister; he is the ultimate decider. Before leaving this ministry, I knew we will go up to 38 or 40 per cent of the women getting positions as commanders.
“So we are praying that anything they came to say will be successful afterwards,” she said.
After the meeting, the delegation also met with the Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, who assured them of his support.
Source: myjoyonline.com
