Accra: Mrs. Sheila Minkah-Premo, Convenor of the Affirmative Action Law Coalition, has emphasized the importance of effectively implementing the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121) as a crucial step towards achieving genuine gender equality in Ghana. She highlighted that the law's passage in July 2024 marked a significant milestone following more than a decade of advocacy, but its real impact hinges on the commitment of institutions, policymakers, and society to enforce it.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mrs. Minkah-Premo expressed concerns during a speech at the opening of a two-day stakeholder workshop on family law reform in Accra. Organized by the Initiative for Gender Equality and Development in Africa (IGED-Africa) in collaboration with the Solidarity of African Women's Rights (SOAWR) Coalition and hosted by Equality Now, the workshop aims to advance advocacy on Ghana's family law reform agenda. The gathering, which runs from September 10 to 11, 2025, has attracted civil society actors, legal experts, and policymakers, focusing on accelerating progress on pending legislations like the Property Rights of Spouses Bill and the Interstate Succession Bill, which have faced prolonged delays in Parliament.
The workshop is part of broader efforts to strengthen gender equality gains across Africa, with its outcomes contributing to regional strategies to address persistent barriers to women's rights and representation. Mrs. Minkah-Premo, who has been instrumental in drafting and advocating for the Affirmative Action law, explained that the Act provides a legal framework to progressively increase women's participation in governance-aiming for 30 percent by 2026, 35 percent by 2028, and 50 percent by 2034. The law also establishes a Gender Equity Committee to oversee compliance and issue certificates to institutions meeting targets.
However, Mrs. Minkah-Premo cautioned that challenges in implementing the law are already apparent. Early signs of non-compliance in presidential appointments, funding gaps for the Gender Equity Committee, and delays in setting up necessary structures were highlighted as urgent issues to be addressed. She pointed out that cultural barriers, entrenched stereotypes, and a patriarchal political system continue to undermine women's representation. Despite women constituting over 50 percent of Ghana's population, their representation in Parliament is only 14.8 percent, with 41 female MPs out of 276.
Mrs. Minkah-Premo further noted that the Affirmative Action law is designed not only to meet constitutional requirements but also to align Ghana with its international obligations, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Maputo Protocol, and the Beijing Platform for Action. She called on stakeholders to persist in their efforts, stating, "The law is only as strong as the people who defend it. It is up to all of us, civil society, policymakers, and citizens, to hold duty bearers accountable so that gender equality moves from paper to practice."
Workshop participants underscored the importance of reforming family laws alongside enforcing the Affirmative Action Act to provide stronger protection for women's rights and foster a more inclusive governance system. They concurred that coalition-building, public education, and consistent monitoring are vital to sustaining advocacy and ensuring accountability.
