By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Non-Governmental Organisation, She Leads Ghana Network, a gender advocacy group, has admonished President John Dramani Mahama to ensure there is gender equality and parity in all the appointments he made.
The group wants Pres. Mahama to ensure women feature prominently in all appointments, including ministerial positions, the Council of State, Independent Constitutional Bodies, Public Service, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.
According to the group, the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act 1121, 2024 mandates that a minimum of 30% of decision-making roles in Ghana be occupied by women.
It’s on this leg that the gender (women) advocacy group is calling on the President of the Republic of Ghana to ensure his appointments reflect the provisions of the Affirmative Action Act, Act 1121, 2024.
The Affirmative Action Act, Act 1121, 2024, aims to progressively enhance women’s participation in public and political life, with a long-term goal of achieving 50% representation by 2034, in line with international conventions and regional agreements such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Charter for Democracy, Elections, and Governance, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
The group, in a statement issued and signed by the Coordinator of She Leads Network, Madam Lydia Agyakwa, also urges the Affirmative Action Law Coalition and other key stakeholders to intensify public education, advocacy, and monitoring to guarantee the effective implementation of this law.
“Recognising that the achievement of sustainable development by 2030 depends significantly on ensuring equal participation of women in political and professional spheres, we stress the critical need for gender inclusivity in decision-making processes at all levels.
The She Leads Ghana Consortium, alongside its implementing partners, Girls, Young Women, and Civil Society Organisations, urges His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama and his office to uphold the provisions of the Affirmative Action Law.
We call for the full integration of women into leadership roles to meet the 30% quota outlined in the law by 2026,” parts of the statement read.
