The Affirmative Action Law Coalition has marked the first anniversary of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121), with a call for an urgent focus on its implementation.
The law was passed on July 30, 2024, and assented into law on September 11, 2024.
“The Act was a landmark victory after over a decade of advocacy, setting progressive targets of a minimum 30 per cent women’s representation in all levels of decision-making in both the public and private sector by 2026, rising to parity by 2034, and creating the Gender Equity Committee to ensure accountability,” a statement issued by the Convenor of the coalition, Sheila Minkah-Premo, said.
Government
Over the past year, it said the coalition had commended government and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection for key gains.
They included the inauguration of the Gender Equity Committee, the start of consultations for a Legislative Instrument, public education campaigns, the appointment of seven women to the Council of State, and the historic appointments of women as heads of the fire and prisons services.
“Act 1121 was a victory — but without implementation, it risks becoming a symbolic win rather than a transformative force.
“Progress in terms of implementation has been slow and uneven.
The minimum 30 per quota in public appointments remains unmet, the Gender Equity Committee is under-resourced, the Legislative Instrument is delayed, gender-responsive budgeting has not taken root and awareness of the law is still low,” it emphasised.
Enforce
The coalition called on the government — and President John Dramani Mahama in particular — to enforce the minimum 30 per cent quota in all appointments, resource the Gender Equity Committee, complete the Legislative Instrument within 2025, integrate gender-responsive budgeting into the 2025/2026 budget, and rally all sectors— both private and public— to make inclusivity non-negotiable.
“We call on government to make inclusivity non-negotiable: every appointment, every budget, every institution must reflect Ghana’s commitment to gender equity.
“One year on, Act 1121 stands as both a victory and a challenge. Victory, because it codifies gender equity into law.
Challenge, because its true power lies not in passage, but in full implementation,” it said.
The Affirmative Action Law Coalition, it said, was ready to partner with government and all stakeholders to ensure that the country would become a beacon for gender equality in Africa.
