Ms. Dakoa Newman, Minister of Gender, says the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (ACT 1121) demonstrates the government’s dedication to advancing gender equity and equality in Ghana.
She said the passage of the Act showed the government’s strong commitment to increasing women’s participation in decision-making across political, corporate, and civil society platforms.
Ms. Newman made these remarks at the close of the Gender Ministry’s two-day summit held in Accra, with support from various partners.
The theme of this year’s summit was “Promoting Equality and Inclusive Development through the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (ACT 1121).”
The summit served as a key platform for the Ministry to update its partners and the public on progress made in areas such as gender equality, women’s empowerment, child rights promotion, protection and development, and social development.
It also provided an opportunity to solicit feedback for the effective implementation of new bills and policies, including the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act 2024.
Ms. Newman stated that the Act would help establish fair labour practices and tackle gender disparities in the workplace.
She said that the Act aimed to ensure equal access to comprehensive healthcare, quality education, and advancement opportunities for girls and young women.
It would also create support systems that address the unique needs of women and marginalized groups.
“The passage of the Affirmative Action Act 2024 is also a fulfillment of the government’s commitment in fulfilling its prior action for the World Bank support for the Development Policy Operations of government,” she added.
The Minister highlighted concerning statistics, revealing that over 38 percent of adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 in Ghana had experienced sexual abuse at some point in their lives.
She noted that more than 20 percent of Ghanaian girls marry before the age of 18, with rural areas seeing even higher rates.
Regarding education, Ms. Newman noted that Ghana ranked 108th out of 146 in the 2022 Gender Inequality Index (GII).
She emphasized that many girls, particularly in rural areas, were forced to drop out of school due to financial barriers, cultural practices, or early pregnancies, making the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act 2024 (Act 1121) vital in addressing these disparities.
Dr. Emmily Naphambo, the Deputy Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to Ghana, echoed the need for intentional strategies to dismantle structural inequalities.
She stressed that real progress required creating opportunities for all members of society to contribute meaningfully.
“We recognise that diversity strengthens our nation, and inclusive development fosters resilience, innovation, and prosperity for everyone,” she said.
Dr. Naphambo urged stakeholders to back policies and programs that actively empower women, girls, and other marginalized groups, ensuring they have access to opportunities, decision-making power, and the ability to drive growth within their communities.
Mr. Fiachra McAsey, Deputy Country Representative for UNICEF, said that gender equality cannot be achieved if girls continue to face abuse, violence, and harmful practices.
He said survivors of violence often refrained from seeking support because they may not find female frontline workers or service providers with whom they felt comfortable.
Mr. McAsey added that the new Act must drive momentum for positive change by addressing deep-rooted challenges, such as improving gender equality within the social service workforce and law enforcement, while also ensuring social accountability.
He called for improvements in public finance management, including through gender-responsive budgeting.
