A former Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection Otiko Afisa Djaba believes that President Akufo-Addo will sign the Affirmative Action Bill into law once it has been passed.
According to her, the President has been an ambassador for gender issues and emphasised that women make up 52% of Ghana’s population, so this decision could significantly impact his party’s votes.
Parliament passed the Affirmative Action Gender Equity Bill 2024, which has been under discussion for several years.
The bill was approved unanimously by the House to ensure that a significant number of women hold key positions in governance, public life, and decision-making, ultimately improving the lives of women across the country.
Speaking on JoyNews AM show, Mrs Djaba said “… no affirmative action assent, no vote from the women. We are going to put the screws on. This thing must become a reality. We are not going to dilly-dally about it. It has been at a snail space, and if it has happened under his watch, he has no other reason but to just give the assent. He does have a choice. He has five daughters.”
She stated that throughout Ghana’s history, there has been an effort to bring this law into existence, and finally, under President Akufo-Addo’s administration, it is becoming a reality.
“Why wouldn’t he?”. He has no other reason but to just give the assent now.”
The Affirmative Action Gender Equity Bill 2024 is expected to ensure that a critical number of women hold key positions in governance, public life, and decision-making spaces, thereby improving the lives of women in the country.
The law also seeks to encourage efforts towards addressing socio-cultural, political, economic, and educational gender imbalances in private and public sectors, per Clause 4 of Article 17 of the 1992 Constitution.
Its objective is to promote the progressive increase and active participation of women in public and active life from a minimum of 30 percent by 2030, under the requirements of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
But former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, had earlier expressed his dissatisfaction with portions of the bill.
He argued that some of the bill’s content did not specifically address issues relevant to Ghana, but instead focused more on matters in other jurisdictions.
The Member of Parliament for Tamale South, voiced his concerns while speaking at the 15th MTN Pulse Africa Transform Summit in Kumasi.
He encouraged women to aspire but also to manage their aspirations.
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