By Courtney • 15 years ago

Quick Hit: Joyce Bamford Addo Breaks Glass Ceiling in Ghana

After a long wait, requiring a lot of equanimity and patience, Mrs. Joyce Bamford Addo has just been appointed the third most powerful person in Ghana: Speaker of the 230 member of the 5th parliament of the 4th Republic. In more simple terms, she will be the first woman in the West African sub-region to hold such an honor, joining Betty Boothroyed in the UK and Nancy Pelosi of the US worldwide.
The coverage of her appointment on allAfrica.com, by the way, is sexist hilarity:

She retired to become an active grand mother superintending over her grand-children from her five children, who are in their late 30s. She was once married to one Mr. Abankwa, with whom she had three children and then the late Major General Addo, who also died a few years ago.
Sources who know her, say she is not a brainstorming Justice Kpegah look-alike, in terms of temperament, but a generally fair minded person, a lady who takes time to dust her nose and apply mascara delicately, before she goes to court. Apart from playing grandma, she now reads and occasional writes, until this unexpected job as the third most powerful person in the land.

Next time I’m “dusting my nose” I’ll think of ol’ Grandma Addo.
Thanks to the Women’s Media Center for the heads up.

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