Ghana Passes Landmark Affirmative Action Gender Bill

Ghana's parliament has passed the Affirmative Action Gender Bill 2024, aiming to boost women's participation in governance to at least 30% by 2030. The law awaits presidential approval and seeks to address gender imbalances across various sectors, a process that began in 1998.

Ghana's parliament passed the Affirmative Action Gender Bill 2024 on Tuesday, setting a target to increase women's participation in governance to a minimum of 30% by 2030. This long-awaited legislation, initially proposed in 1998, aims to address socio-cultural, political, economic, and educational imbalances in both private and public sectors.

The law will come into effect once President Nana Akufo-Addo, who supported the measure, signs it into law. Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin emphasized the importance of implementing the law to create a fair and just society, as encouraged by the nation's 1992 Constitution.

'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,' Bagbin stated. Despite recent restrictive legislation against LGBTQ people, this measure is a significant step towards gender equity. Currently, women represent less than 15% of Ghana's 275-member parliament, far below the UN's 30% target for all nations. Gender activist Shamima Muslim hailed the legislation as a crucial step in overcoming historical and systemic barriers to female participation.