Women's group demand Oye Lithur's resignation

ruth

August 2, 2016 5:12 PM

In their view this should have caught the attention of the Gender Minister rather than supporting the call for the release of the convicted trio.

___5334663___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___5334663___2016___8___2___18___1.9383788

A group calling itself Women of Faith and Substance has called on the Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, to step down after signing the petition to persuade President Mahama to pardon the Montie trio.

According to the women, the three, Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase, aka Mugabe did not only bring the court into disrepute but also threatened the life of the Chief Justice, who happens to be a woman.

Since the sentencing, some government appointees, NDC gurus and supporters of the party have mounted pressure on President John Dramani Mahama to grant them pardon by invoking his prerogative of mercy powers under Article 72 of the 1992 Constitution.

Some of the dignitaries who signed the petition include Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection Nana Oye Lithur, Minister of Education Prof Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, Deputy Education Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Petroleum Minister Benjamin Dagadu, Deputy Minister of Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu, among others.

But the women’s group has indicated in a statement that Oye Lithur’s contribution in the petition defeats the purpose of her position as a Gender Minister .

“It goes without saying that the Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood, has been left in the lurch by the very person whose duty it is to stand up and shield her from any attack that may emanate from a section of the public. The recent spate of attacks and threats on the very existence of the fourth most powerful personality in the country, and arguably, the most powerful woman around, have been treated with undeserved disdain by the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur.”

“It is needless for us to bombard Ghanaians once again with the hideously distasteful words employed by the incarcerated Montie gang to threaten the Chief Justice, but what we find extremely difficult to fathom is the failure of Oye Lithur, the woman charged with the responsibility of overseeing the interests of women, to not only condemn these never-ending attacks and threats on the Chief Justice, but also organise series of demonstrations with the sole intention to press home the ministry's aversion to such abhorrent behavioural attitudes. These core duties, strangely enough, have been overlooked by Nana Oye Lithur! The rather deafening silence of the gender minister in the face of these threats on the life of the CJ [Chief Justice] is puzzling, to say the least!

Enhance Your Pulse News Experience!

Get rewards worth up to $20 when selected to participate in our exclusive focus group. Your input will help us to make informed decisions that align with your needs and preferences.

I've got feedback!

ruth