Parliament has officially passed the Affirmative Action, Gender Equity Bill 2024 into law.
The bill aims to address social, cultural, economic, and political gender imbalances in Ghana, which are rooted in historical discrimination against women and ongoing patriarchal socio-cultural systems and norms.
Additionally, the bill seeks to ensure gender equity in both public and private sectors.
During the parliamentary session on Tuesday, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin announced the passage of the bill, stating, “Honourable members, the ‘ayes’ have it. The Affirmative Action Gender Equity Bill 2024, now the Affirmative Action Gender Equity Act, has been read a third time and passed.”
However, Haruna Iddrisu, Member of Parliament for Tamale South, had earlier voiced his dissatisfaction with the bill. He argued that the bill’s content did not specifically address issues pertinent to Ghana but instead focused on matters more relevant to other countries.
Mr. Iddrisu shared his concerns while speaking at the 15th MTN Pulse Africa Transform Summit in Kumasi. He encouraged women to have aspirations but also to manage them effectively.