'I am a winning mate NOT a running mate' – SDP’s Laila Sharu speaks

The Vice-Presidential Candidate for the Socialist Development Party, SDP, Laila Sharu Charry, after her unveiling as winning mate for the party has assured all women and young girls of the party’s core principle of equality in distribution of positions and development.

She made the comment in her acceptance speech at an event that was held on Saturday,  April 9, 2022. 

In an electrifying extempore speech, Laila stated that, “more women needed to take up seats, where all the seats are taken, bring your seat along or better still break the damn table, rearrange the seating and take any seat you want.”

According to her, thanks to the SDP, women have equal opportunities to climb up the leadership ladder especially when unfortunately, in most part of the world, voices of women are muffled.

She lamented the fact that till date, most women do not have a voice and even with the few who found their voice, it’s either they are labeled as disruptive to society, or branded with the infamous tag of “feminist”.

Laila stressed that she accepted the role in order to be a winning mate and not a running mate.

She explained: “Let the other parties run around with running mates because that is what they know and have come to accept. I, Laila Sharu Charry, I am a winning mate, note the difference. SDP is in this contest to win it or win it.”

She further affirmed her commitment to the party’s victory and thanked the party’s National Executive Commitment and Research team for the appointment.

Official portrait of SDP winning mate Laila Sharu

She will support the bid of Presidential candidate Mr. Obed King Gaglo, who was outdoored at an event that took place at the North Dzorwulu Campus of the Ghana Institute of Journalism on Saturday, April 9, 2022.

The activities of SDP forms part of the Level 300 Political Communication course in which students form simulated political parties to contest in a ‘national event.’ This year’s event is slated for May 14, 2022.

Story by: Paulina Arthur

Read the inaugural address of our flagbearer below