Tamale: The Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) has urged policymakers to adopt a Mixed-Member Proportional Representation (MMPR) system to ensure the effective implementation of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equality) Law 2024. Speaking at a high-level forum at the University for Development Studies, Mr. Kwesi Jonah, Research Fellow for Advocacy and Institutional Relations at IDEG, stressed the urgent need for electoral reforms to increase women's representation, which currently stands at just four per cent at the district level.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Jonah explained that MMPR would enable political parties to nominate women through proportional lists, advancing inclusive governance. With the law targeting 30 to 35 per cent women's representation in 2026 and 2027 respectively, he stated that it is imperative to move beyond current electoral systems to achieve meaningful results.
The forum also featured remarks from the Chief of Gukpegu, Naa Alhassan Abdulai, who praised IDEG and the Northern Sector Action and Awareness Centre (NORSAAC), an organisation that empowers women, youth, and the marginalised, for their grassroots initiatives. He noted that gender inequality stems more from societal beliefs than culture and emphasised the need for intensive education and sensitisation.
'We are grateful for the programmes led by IDEG and NORSAAC. I hope they continue because through these activities, people at the grassroots get to know what is happening in governance,' he said. Participants called for strong political will and nationwide advocacy to translate the law into tangible change and meet Ghana's gender equality commitments.
