Accra: Amnesty International Ghana (AG), a non-governmental organization, has urged the complete implementation of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity 2024) Act, which aims to address gender imbalances across all sectors of society. Madam Genevieve Partington, Country Director of AG, emphasized the importance of this implementation during the 2025 International Women's Day commemoration, themed 'For All Women's and Girls: Rights Equality, Empowerment.'
According to Ghana News Agency, Madam Partington stated that passing the law is merely the starting point, and the true measure of commitment will be seen in its implementation. She stressed the need for rigorous monitoring, robust accountability mechanisms, and clear targets for women's representation in public offices, governance, and decision-making positions. The Act also seeks to introduce gender-responsive budgeting across government sectors and mandates political parties to progressively achieve gender equality targets.
Statistics from the World Economic Forum reveal that women's workforce representation worldwide stands at 42%, with only 31.7% occupying senior leadership roles. AG plans to collaborate with civil society organizations to raise awareness about the law's provisions, empowering citizens to know their rights and demand accountability.
Madam Partington commended the government for striving toward the current 30% quota for women's representation in government positions and for initiatives like providing sanitary pads to young school-going girls nationwide. She highlighted the appointments of DDGP 3 Patience Baffoe-Bonnie as Director General of the Ghana Prisons Service and DCFO Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong as Chief Fire Officer as examples of progress in government representation.
She called on stakeholders, including government agencies, political parties, the private sector, and individual citizens, to support the Affirmative Action Act. Dr. Naa Momo Lartey, Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, acknowledged the long-standing advocacy and policy debates that led to the passage of the Act, describing it as a promise to young girls aspiring to leadership roles.
Dr. Lartey expressed gratitude to AG for creating a platform that celebrates the country's progress while addressing the challenges toward gender equality.
