By Bertha Badu-Agyei/Harriet Akosua Kwakye
Accra, Dec 4, GNA – Madam Shirley Kyei, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for Atwima Nwabiagya South, has supported the call for more women to be voted into parliament come December 7.
“Women represent majority of the voting population of which my constituency is not an exception so our voices should be heard when it comes to decision making” she submitted.
Madam Kyei, the first woman ever to contest the Atwima nwabiagya South seat, hopes to bring a fresh perspective of representation to the constituents and add up to the female members in the next parliament.
Speaking in an interview with the GNA gender-desk, Ms Kyei noted that issues concerning women in national development could be best articulated and addressed by women, hence the need to vote more women to decision making levels like parliament.
Currently, she is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s Minerals Commission and is optimistic about her campaign’s progress noting that her candidacy had energized her constituents who were eager to have a female for the first time as the MP.
In spite of the fact that, the seat is a known safe seat of the NPP, she has made a passionate appeal to the electorate to go all out to vote for her and Dr Bawumia, the NPP presidential candidate adding “let us maximize the votes to show our strong support for women and the NPP”.
Madam Kyei, a product of Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ Senior High School, pursued higher education in the United Kingdom, earning degrees from De Montfort Greenwich universities as well as an MBA at the Accra Business School.
She was the women’s organizer for the NPP in the United Kingdom and had been involved in grassroots politics of the NPP and remains committed to break barriers and champion inclusiveness.
During the NPP primaries, Madam Kyei, faced off with three males and views her victory in the primaries as a testament to the growing acceptance of women in leadership roles.
Atwima nwabiagya South was created out of the Atwima Nwabiagya Constituency, where former President John Agyekum Kufuor was the Member of Parliament in the second and third republic (1969-1972) and (1979-81) respectively.
The NPP has consistently since 1996 won both the Presidential and parliamentary elections with increased votes and wider margins such as the 2020 elections where President Akufo-Addo obtained 58,109 votes (80.24%) as against Former President Mahama who garnered 13,827 (19.09%).
GNA