Ghana has taken a significant step towards gender equality with the passage of the Affirmative Action Gender Bill 2024.
The law, approved by parliament on Tuesday, aims to increase women’s participation in governance and decision-making to a minimum of 30% by 2030.
The landmark legislation, decades in the making, seeks to address long-standing imbalances in Ghanaian society. It mandates efforts to rectify socio-cultural, political, economic, and educational disparities affecting both the public and private sectors.
The bill’s passage marks a crucial milestone in the country’s journey towards creating a more equitable society.
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin expressed optimism about the law’s potential impact.
“We need to do more to be able to create this free and just society we are looking for to liberate more of our women,” he said. The new law aligns with Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which emphasizes the state’s responsibility to ensure gender equality.
President Nana Akufo-Addo, a vocal supporter of the bill, is expected to sign the legislation into law soon. Once enacted, the government will be tasked with implementing measures to achieve the 30% women’s representation target.
Currently, women hold less than 15% of seats in Ghana’s parliament, a figure significantly below the United Nations’ global benchmark.
The passage of the Affirmative Action Gender Bill is seen as a crucial step towards closing this gap and empowering women in the country’s political landscape.
Activists and advocates have hailed the law as a positive development. Shamima Muslim, a gender and political activist, described the passage as the first step towards overcoming historical and systemic barriers faced by women and marginalized groups.