News:
July 31, 2024
The long awaited Affirmative Action Bill has finally been passed by parliament.
The House on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 passed the much anticipated law aimed at giving more opportunities to women at the national level, with a target to increase their participation in governance and decision-making process to a minimum of 30% by 2030 under the requirements of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Affirmative Action Bill was presented to the House on Friday, June 14, 2024, by the Minister for Education on behalf of the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection and later referred to the Committee on Gender, Children and Social Welfare for consideration and report in accordance with Articles 103(3) and 106(4) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 237 of the Standing Orders of Parliament.
The Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Bill 2024, passed by the Ghanaian MPs brings finality to the advocacy started almost three decades ago for a more equitable society through laid down processes to address the socio-cultural, political, economic, and educational imbalances in private and public sectors in accordance with clause 4 of Article 17 of the 1992 Constitution.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin after the passage called for swift implementation of the requirements of the law, inspired by the 1992 Constitution which says the state must take steps to ensure gender equality and equity.
“Don’t just celebrate and don’t really put in place the vision that we have created for the country. But more importantly, I hope that members will commit themselves to the constitutional reforms. We need to do more there to be able to create this free and just society we are looking for to liberate more of our women to be able to support us to be able to develop mother Ghana,” Speaker Bagbin said.
The country now looks forward to the president of the republic to assent to the Bill into law to take effect.
Ghanamps.com