Ghana’s Parliament has passed the Affirmative Action Gender Equity Bill 2024, aimed at addressing gender imbalances in the country. The Bill seeks to promote gender equity in both public and private sectors.
Speaker Alban Bagbin announced the passage of the Bill, saying, “Honourable members, the ‘ayes’ have it. The Affirmative Action Gender Equality Bill 2024 now the Affirmative Action Gender Equity Act duly read the third time and passed.”
However, not everyone supported the Bill. Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, NDC MP for Tamale South, expressed opposition to the Bill, arguing that it didn’t specifically address Ghana’s issues but focused on matters in other countries.
Despite his opposition, Mr. Iddrisu encouraged women to aspire and manage their ambitions during the 15th MTN Pulse Africa Transform Summit in Kumasi.
Ghana previously passed the Affirmative Action Act in 1960, allowing ten women to represent the country’s regions in the legislature. The law acknowledged women’s political participation as essential for democratic dialogue and social cohesion.
However, women’s representation in Ghana remains low, with only 14.5% in Parliament and less than 5% in the District Assembly System.
Ghana has signed international protocols pledging 30-40% representation of women, but these figures remain extremely low, hindering women’s effective contributions to Ghana’s development.
The passage of the Affirmative Action Gender Equity Bill 2024 marks a significant step towards addressing these gender imbalances and promoting gender equity in Ghana.
By: Michael Seh
