Include mothers in the national pledge – Adwoa Safo advocates

Member of Parliament for Dome – Kwabenya Sarah Adwoa Safo has called for a review of Ghana’s National Pledge.

She is concerned that the clause “through the toils of our fathers” in the National Pledge undermines women’s role in Ghana’s independence struggle.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, the MP recommended the inclusion of “foremothers” alongside “forefathers” to recognize women’s significant contributions to the nation’s history.

“The National Pledge talks about ‘through the blood and toils of our fathers’ and omits mothers, but the mothers also toiled for this country, and I think it is gender-insensitive. Even when we are referring to the country, we call it our motherland, but when it comes to the National Pledge, and we are referring to the struggles and toils, we omit our mothers, and I want to draw your attention to it so we look at it as a country so that we become more gender-sensitive when it comes to our National Pledge,” she said.

This came up after Parliament’s new Standing Orders requiring Members of Parliament to begin their sessions by reciting the National Pledge took effect on Tuesday, February 7, 2024.

The objective behind this initiative is to foster patriotism and unity among chamber members.