Ten reasons Nadowli-Kaleo District should confirm a woman as DCE

As of Sunday, 27th April 2025, the Nadowli-Kaleo District remained the only district in the Upper West Region yet to go through the District Chief Executive (DCE) nominee’s approval or confirmation process.

Ten (10) districts and municipalities had gone through the process with nine being successful while the Wa East District DCE nominee, Mr Adamu Sayibu, failed to go through.

The 1,700,000 eyes (of the 901,502 people in the region) are on the Nadowli-Kaleo District. The circumstances surrounding the DCE nominee for the Nadowli-Kaleo District, Ms. Mary Haruna, the only female DCE nominee in the region, could be a factor in the delay in taking her through the approval process.  

The approval had been scheduled for Monday, 28th April, 2025 to get the district ready for the exercise, perhaps, because the National Democratic Congress (NDC) party wants to impress the DCE nomination authority, His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama.

While the circumstance around Ms. Mary Haruna’s nomination could have angered many supporters, faithfuls and sympathizers of the NDC party in the Nadowli-Kaleo District, it should rather be seen as a blessing to the party in that constituency and the district in general.

WHY?

These are the ten reasons why the 52 Assembly Members in the Nadowli-Kaleo District assembly should not hesitate to confirm Ms. Mary Haruna on Monday, April 28, 2025.

1. Opportunity for comparison: Approving Ms. Mary Haruna would mean a “Woman” from the NDC is taking over from a “Woman” DCE from the New Patriotic Party (NPP). This will create an opportunity for the people in that district to assess the performances of “Women” from the two major political parties in Ghana. That assessment will also inform the decision of the voters in Nadowli-Kaleo District in the 2028 general election and beyond.

2. Opportunity for development: Though Ms. Mary Haruna could be said to have “bull-dosed” her way through to be nominated as the DCE for Nadowli-Kaleo District (because she was initially missing out on the three shortlisted applicants). That should send a signal to the development-loving people in the district that she could leverage her lobbying power to pull development to the district. A good leader is a good lobbyist, and Ms. Mary Haruna has exhibited that prowess. Despite whichever means she might have passed through to get to the top, she should be given the opportunity to serve to transform the district through that same means.

3. Inclusive development: Having Ms. Mary Haruna, a female, as the DCE for the Nadowli-Kaleo District would help ensure inclusive development. As women are noted for their love for their children and families, Ms. Mary Haruna’s motherly love would push her to serve all manner of people in the district diligently. The development of the Nadowli-Kaleo District would be inclusive, ensuring that the interests and needs of women, children, the aged and men are considered in development planning.

4. Honour to NDC Women: Ms. Mary Haruna’s approval as DCE would give honour to the NDC women in the Nadowli-kaleo Constituency and the women in the entire Upper West Region to have their own in the helm of affairs in the district.

5. Honour to traditional leaders: Ms. Mary Haruna’s approval as the DCE for Nadowli-Kaleo District will bring honour to the traditional leaders in the Upper West Region, especially the Queen Mothers who advocated the inclusion of females in the DCE nominees. This will also be welcoming news to the many individuals and institutions that advocated the inclusion of females in the DCE list for the region. 

6.  Honour to President Mahama: Ms. Mary Haruna’s approval would also be an honour and appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama and that would motivate the President to do more for the district. Though many people applied to be DCE in that district, the President, in his own wisdom, and the power the people bestowed on him, nominated Ms. Mary Haruna for that role because he thinks she can support him to develop the district.

7. Role model impact: The world aspires for inclusive leadership as exhibited by the NDC in producing the first female vice president for Ghana. Having a female DCE for the Nadowli-Kaleo District for the second time would inspire young girls and women, not only that district but the region in general to pursue leadership roles, breaking long-standing social barriers against female leadership.

8. Dignity to Assembly Members: The Assembly Members are seen as revered leaders within every district. Their decisions have a significant impact on the district’s development. It would, therefore, be an honour for the Assembly Members in the Nadowli-Kaleo District to confirm Ms. Mary Haruna and support her in developing the district.

9. Historic decision of the Assembly Members: Confirming Ms. Mary Haruna as the DCE for the Nadowli-Kaleo District would be a historic achievement of the district in the region.  That would be the first district in the region to have been led by “women” for more than eight years. The credit and honour will be to the honourable Assembly Members who would confirm her on the 28th of April, 2025.

10. Amicable resolution: It is time for aggrieved Assembly Member and members and members of the NDC party who have roles in Ms. Mary Haruna’s approval to let “bygone be bygone”, burry the hatchets and act in the interest of the thousands of people in the district by ensuring her approval. 

When this is done, we will say “Hallelujah/Alhamdulillah”