The Upper East Area Programme Manager of ActionAid Ghana, Yakubu Akuka has called for the continued fight to liberate women in Ghana and across Africa.
Speaking at a recently held Regional Women’s Forum on Gender Equality and Ghana’s Affirmative Action Law, Mr. Akuka decried women being left behind in leadership despite being the majority in terms of population.
This he attributes to social norms that inhibit the ability of women to take up various roles in leadership.
Currently, Ghana’s parliament has only 39 women serving as members of Parliament with the Upper East Region having only 2 out of 15 MPs.
Mr. Akuka, however, described the election of Prof. Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang as a great achievement in the light of women empowerment. He believes more can be done to give life especially, to the Affirmative Action Law.
“One of the most critical steps toward gender equality was the passage of Ghana’s Affirmative Action Law in July 2024. This law is designed to create equitable opportunities for women, ensuring their increased participation in governance and leadership.
Despite years of advocacy by civil society organizations, including ActionAid Ghana, this milestone has finally been achieved. However, the passage of the law is only the beginning. We must now focus on effective implementation to ensure that the provisions of the law translate into tangible opportunities for women across Ghana.”
He also acknowledged the progress made in the improvement of some cultural and social norms in terms of how widowhood rites were previously carried out in a dehumanizing manner adding, his outfit has led the training of many young women in skill acquisition.
According to Mr. Akuka, there is a need for commitment to implementing the Affirmative Action Law to make it a transformative force for Gender Justice.
“The time for action is now. Gender equality is not a dream—it is an achievable reality when we stand together. Let us commit ourselves to ensuring that Ghana’s Affirmative Action Law is not just a piece of legislation but a transformative force for gender justice,” he stressed.
Speaking at the Forum, the Upper East Regional Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) Abdulai Jalaldeen described the Affirmative Action Law as a significant step towards achieving gender equality and women empowerment in Ghana.
The Forum was under the theme: AccelerateAction: For Affirmative Action
