The co-chair of the Democratic Union of Africa, Louisa Atta-Agyemang, has been appointed as the Vice Chairman of the International Democracy Union (IDU).
This momentous decision was made at the International Democracy Union Forum held in Washington D.C. from December 4 to 6, 2023.
Louisa Atta-Agyemang is a member of the New Patriotic Party and has been a strong advocate for equity within the leadership and political space, having inspired and groomed many young men and women into various leadership positions.
Her leadership journey commenced from her days as the first female President of her university’s student representative council and first female President of the Ghana Union of Professional Students.
She was also the first female President of the National Nnion of Ghana Students (in an acting capacity) and the first female president of the Young Democrat Union of Africa and currently as the first female Co-Chair of the Democrat Union of Africa.
Formed in 1983, the International Democracy Union provides a forum in which Parties holding similar beliefs, centre-right, can come together and exchange views on matters of policy and organizational interest, so that they can learn from each other, act together, establish contacts and speak with one strong voice to promote democracy and centre-right policies around the globe.
Founding Members of the IDU included Britain’s Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, then US Vice-President George Bush Sr, Paris Mayor and later President of France Jacques Chirac, German Chancellor Helm Kohl and many other Party Leaders.
Currently, the Union is made up of political parties and leaders from all over the world. One of the flagship initiatives of the Union has been the IDU Forum which brings together leaders across the world to deliberate on pertinent issues mostly hinged on the protection of democracy, human rights and economic development.
During the 2023 IDU forum in Washington D. C., Hon. Louisa Atta-Agyemang engaged in various sessions.
Notably, she spoke at the Lunch Discussion of the International Women’s Democrat Union (IWDU), focusing on “The Role of Female Leadership in the Face of Rising Threats to Democratic Values.”
The panel included Sofia Brambilla, Chairwoman of IWDU and Member of the Chamber of Deputies of Argentina, as well as Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU. Kodiak Hill-Davis, Founder and Political Director of Republican Women for Progress, moderated the discussion.
Louisa strongly opined that “Female leadership should not be tokenistic; it should not be an afterthought. If we want to achieve a better society, then we should encourage female participation in politics at all levels….”
In addition to her involvement in at the IDU Forum, Hon. Louisa Atta-Agyemang participated in the Crossover Initiative side event.
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