On Tuesday, Ghana’s lawmakers enacted a pivotal law designed to boost women’s representation at the national level. This new legislation establishes a target to ensure that women make up at least 30% of governance and decision-making roles by 2030. Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, announced this landmark decision, marking the culmination of efforts that started in 1998 to foster a more equitable society.
The Affirmative Action Gender Bill 2024 received unanimous approval from Ghana’s Members of Parliament (MPs), mandating measures to address socio-cultural, political, economic, and educational inequalities across both private and public sectors. The bill will be enacted once President Nana Akufo-Addo, who has shown support for the legislation, signs it.
Speaker Alban Bagbin highlighted the necessity of enacting the law’s provisions, inspired by the 1992 Constitution’s mandate for gender equality and equity. “We need to take further steps to build a free and just society that can empower more of our women,” Bagbin remarked.
At present, women represent fewer than 15% of Ghana’s 275-member parliament, falling short of the United Nations’ goal of 30% for all nations. In a June report, Ghana was ranked 119th in terms of global gender parity in political empowerment. The new law aims to bridge this gap and advance gender balance in governance.
Shamima Muslim, a 44-year-old gender and political activist, applauded the bill’s passage as a critical first step in overcoming historical and systemic barriers to women’s involvement in politics and other fields. “This is a positive development that requires ongoing efforts to realize the ideal of a fair and equitable society,” she said.
In contrast to Ghana’s recent enactment of one of Africa’s strictest laws against LGBTQ people—whose implementation is currently stalled by legal challenges—this new affirmative action law represents a progressive stride toward gender equality. The legislation underscores Ghana’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive and balanced society, offering hope for a better future for women and marginalised communities across the country.
