President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has officially signed the Affirmative Action Gender Equity Bill 2024, which Parliament passed in July.
The Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Dakoa Newman, announced the signing in a post on X, stating that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assented to the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024. Next Step: Implementation.”
BACKGROUND
The Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Bill, first introduced to Parliament in 2016, is designed to enhance women’s participation in governance and decision-making in Ghana. It aims to ensure equal opportunities for women, minorities, and other under-represented groups in leadership roles.
Thus, to address social, cultural, economic, and political gender imbalances stemming from historical discrimination against women and persistent patriarchal norms. It seeks to promote gender equity in both the public and private sectors.
In line with international agreements such as CEDAW and the African Charter on Human Rights, the bill sets gender representation targets of 30% by 2026, 35% by 2028, and 50% by 2030 for appointments in public offices and leadership positions.
Although women make up 51.2% of the population, they hold only 13.8% of parliamentary seats and less than 30% of key leadership roles. In local elections, only 4.1% of assembly members are women. Additionally, the bill will introduce gender-responsive budgeting across all government sectors.
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