The National Gender Policy to support the Affirmative Action Bill has expired – Minister
Lariba Zuweira Abudu – Minister of Gender
The National Gender Policy (2015) serving as the supporting policy framework for the approval of the Affirmative Action Bill has expired, Ms Lariba Zuweira Abudu, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, said on Tuesday.
However, the Ministry had, through stakeholder consultation, revised and finalised the National Gender Policy (2023-2032) to give backing to the Bill, with a Cabinet Memorandum being finalised for submission to Cabinet.
Ms Abudu said this on the floor of Parliament in response to a question asked by Mr Peter Kwasi Nortsu-Kotoe, a National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Akatsi North, on behalf of Ms Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, an NDC MP for Tempane.
Mr Nortsu-Kotoe got some information about the situation with the Governmental policy regarding minorities in society Bill and what dire advances the Service was taking to quick track its section.
"Mr Speaker, on my supposition of office as the meaningful Pastor of Orientation, Youngsters and Social Security in January 2023, the Governmental policy regarding minorities in society Bill was resubmitted on second Walk 2023 to Bureau for thought and endorsement," she said.
Ms Abudu, additionally the New Enthusiastic Party MP for Walewale, let Parliament know that fully expecting Bureau's endorsement of the Bill, the Service would draw in the administration of Parliament, the Ladies' Council, Standing Panel on Orientation and Youngsters, as well as the Select Advisory group on Established, Lawful and Parliamentary Issues to quick track the cycle.
Mr Nortsu-Kotoe, in this way, asked Ms Abudu to see to the Bill being passed, especially when she had the full help of the House.
“…Hon Minister, this is an important Bill, which is long overdue, I urge you to see to its passage having the full support of the House,” he said.
On Thursday, December 15, 2022, when Ms Abudu, the then Minister-nominee, appeared before the Appointments Committee to be vetted, she said the Affirmative Action Bill was a key bill she would look at when approved as the substantive minister.
She said the citizens needed the Bill and she was sure that President Akufo-Addo would be very conversant to leveraging its passage, especially when he was a gender champion.
Madam Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, a Member of the Appointments Committee and an NDC MP for Techiman North, asked for her observation on what she described as “a long overdue bill.”
“Mr Chairman, so the bill is in Cabinet, we will draw it and relay it. I have looked at it and I think that a lot of consultation has to be done with members of Parliament both female and male,” Ms Abudu said.
“When we come together we can do it. So, I will knock on your doors to help me so as to pass it.”
Ghana legislated an Affirmative Action Act in the middle of 1960, which allowed 10 women members to represent the regions of the country in the then Legislature.
The law recognised that women’s political participation was a critical component of democratic dialogue and social cohesion but their representation in all policy-making spaces in Ghana stand below the United Nations threshold of 30 per cent.
Currently, women’s representation in Ghana’s Parliament stands at 14.5 per cent, while in the District Assembly System it is below five per cent.
The situation is no different in the Government’s ministerial, ambassadorial, and board appointments.
The persistent low representation of women in these key decision-making spaces makes it nearly impossible for their effective contributions to Ghana’s development.
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