The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) wishes to congratulate the Parliament of Ghana, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), the Affirmative Action Bill Coalition, and all other stakeholders who have played an instrumental role in the successful passage of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024.
This historic milestone is a significant step toward actualizing Article 35 (6b) of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates the State to “take appropriate measures to achieve reasonable regional and gender balance in the recruitment and appointment to public offices”, and demonstrates a strong commitment to addressing the long-standing disparities (in public life, the ownership and control of economic and other resources) and empowering women to contribute meaningfully to the development of our nation.
We commend the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin for his dedication and resolve in
passing this critical legislation, and the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Dakoa Newman, the outgone and present Chairpersons of the Parliamentary Committee on Gender and Children, the Legal and Constitutional Committee of Parliament, the Women’s Caucus and all members who championed the cause working collaboratively with various
stakeholders to ensure the bill’s passage.
We also applaud the unwavering efforts of the
Affirmative Action Coalition and other civil society organizations whose advocacy and mobilization have been essential in achieving this success.
While celebrating this achievement, we must also emphasize the importance of effective implementation.
We, therefore, call on the President, a one-time AU Gender Champion, to assent to the Bill, as a matter of urgency, to ensure its effective implementation.
We also call on the government to provide the necessary resources and support including funding, and capacity building to facilitate the implementation process.
Additionally, we encourage robust and continuous monitoring and evaluation to assess progress and address any challenges that may arise.
CDD-Ghana also urges all relevant actors, including government agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners, to work together diligently to ensure the full and effective implementation of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024.
CDD-Ghana remains committed to supporting the implementation of the Affirmative Action Act, and we continue to advocate for policies and initiatives that promote gender equality and social inclusion.
Once again, we congratulate all stakeholders on this remarkable achievement and look forward to a future where gender equality is a reality in Ghana.
About CDD-Ghana
The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) is an independent, non-governmental, and not-for-profit organization that promotes and supports, through research, education, advocacy, and policy engagement, efforts to build democracy, good governance, and inclusive development in Ghana and throughout Africa.
CDD-Ghana’s research outputs and other products are available to and used by governmental and non-governmental agencies, African regional bodies, development partners, researchers, and the public.
