By: Rejoice Henrietta Otoo Arthur
Ghana’s Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has urged the government to act fast in implementing the Affirmative Action Act. She believes this will speed up progress toward gender equality in the country.
Speaking at Amnesty International Ghana’s Intergenerational Dialogue in Accra on March 19, 2025, she emphasized that the law is not just a policy but a real opportunity for women and young girls to take leadership roles.
The event, held to mark International Women’s Day, gathered government officials, activists, students, and civil society groups to discuss how to enforce the new Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121).
Dr. Lartey acknowledged that global progress on gender equality has been slow. She referenced a UN Women report stating it could take over 100 years to fully close the gender gap. However, she remained hopeful that Ghana, under President John Dramani Mahama’s leadership, could speed up the process.
She praised the President for his commitment to gender equality, especially for the historic election of Ghana’s first female Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang.
The Minister outlined key steps to enforce the Affirmative Action Law. She stated that a Legislative Instrument would be passed to operationalize the Act. She also highlighted plans to support institutions such as Parliament, the Judiciary, security agencies, political parties, and businesses in achieving gender balance. Additionally, she announced that a Gender Equity Committee would be established and resourced to monitor compliance. Furthermore, she stressed that at least 30% of all political appointments would be reserved for women.
She revealed that the Gender Equity Committee would soon be formed, as preparations were nearly complete. She stressed that strong institutions, strict enforcement, and youth involvement are essential for the law to make a real difference.
“We need action, not just discussions. Institutions must commit, enforcement must be strict, and young people must hold leaders accountable,” she said.
She ended her speech by urging all stakeholders to move beyond talking and start acting, ensuring the law creates real change in workplaces, institutions, and national leadership.
