The Parliament of Ghana has finally passed the Affirmative Action, Gender Equity Bill 2024 on Wednesday, July 30, 2024.
The bill seeks to address the social, cultural, economic, and political gender imbalances in the country, stemming from historical discrimination against women and persistent patriarchal socio-cultural systems and norms.
In addition, the bill also seeks to ensure gender equity in both the public and private sectors.
Speaking on the passage in Parliament, Mr Alban Bagbin, the Speaker, said: “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.”
Women’s representation in all policy-making spaces in Ghana is less than the United Nations (UN) threshold of 30 percent.
Women’s representation in Ghana’s Parliament currently stands at 14.5 percent, while it is less than five percent in the District Assembly System.