Oye Lithur says she is not contesting 2016 Parliamentary election

Nana Oye Lithur, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, on Thursday stated that she was not contesting the 2016 Election as a Parliamentary Candidate as being speculated.

“I’m overwhelmed by the energies, dynamism and political power play to lure me to contest a parliamentary seat in Election 2016, but unfortunately I’m not ready to contest.

My apologies to all who wish that I contest for a parliamentary seat; I however wish to assure those constituencies and Ghanaian in general that I will continue to work in the interest of women, the vulnerable, older persons, and human rights activism,” Nana Oye Lithur told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Accra on Wednesday.

Nana Oye Lithur has pledged to relentless play very active role in the campaign to retain the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in power come 2016.

“I will continue to champion crusades to puts women in the spotlight, and “encourage more women to participate and take active role in governance and elections…am ready to support and play active role also in the campaign of all parliamentary candidates”.

The Gender Minister is also committed to the Constitution Review Commission recommendations among other issues which called for encouragement of more women in politics and decision making, saying, “I will continue to support moves to get more women in key positions of our party”.

She said there were many competent and qualified women in the country, and that conscious efforts should be made through affirmative action and capacity building programmes to encourage them to go the extra mile to come forward to actively participate in the country’s development process.

The Minister also debunked speculation that she had sent emissaries to pick nomination forms on her behalf; “I Nana Oye Lithur only got to know through media report,” she said.

Source: GNA