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Ghana’s Affirmative Action Bill passage highly commendable — Josephine Oppong-Yeboah
Josephine Oppong Yeboah
Media personality and gender advocate, Ms Josephine Oppong-Yeboah, has described the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill in Ghana as a “highly commendable act.”
For her, the passage of the Bill in the country was a significant step towards creating a more equitable and just society.
She said the Bill will help to promote gender equality, enhance economic growth, strengthen democracy, and address historical inequalities.
“By empowering women and ensuring their full participation in all aspects of society, Ghana can build a more inclusive and prosperous future for all its citizens,” she said, adding that “gender equality is closely linked to economic growth”
Ms Oppong-Yeboah in a media interview after the passage of the Bill on July 30 2024, said the adoption of the Affirmative Action Bill was a major achievement and demonstrates Ghana’s commitment to achieving gender equality in both public and private sector in the exercise of power and decision-making.
The purpose of the Bill is to effectively address social, cultural, economic and political gender imbalances in the country, stemming from historical discrimination against women and persistent patriarchal socio-cultural systems and norms.
It also seeks to ensure gender equity in both the public and private sector.
For Ms Oppong-Yeboah, empowering women and ensuring their participation in all aspects of society leads to better health, education, and social outcomes for families and communities.
She said the Bill would help to increase the visibility of women in leadership and influential positions, adding that “the bill can inspire and encourage future generations of women to pursue their ambitions; this creates a positive cycle of mentorship and empowerment.”
She was of the view that the decision by Ghana to pass the Bill also aligns with the country’s commitments and demonstrates its dedication to upholding international standards.
“Ghana is a signatory to various international agreements and conventions that promote gender equality, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” the gender advocate explained.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
News
Reconstruction of Sunyani-Techiman-Wenchi-Wa-Hamile Road Corridor to Begin Under “Big Push” Initiative
The reconstruction of the Sunyani-Techiman-Wenchi-Wa-Hamile road corridor is set to begin in the third quarter of this year as part of the government’s “Big Push” initiative,
Kwame Agbodza, the Minister for Roads and Highways, has announced.
To this end, the Minister has directed the Ghana Highways Authority to conduct engineering studies and designs for sections of the corridor that are not currently under construction, in preparation for the upcoming work.
“This entire corridor, all the way to Hamle, is part of the ‘Big Push’ initiative. It is one of the “Big Push” projects we aim to award in June this year. Therefore, those involved in the studies and designs need to expedite their work. We don’t have enough time,” he stated.
Mr. Agbodza made these remarks this morning in Sunyani, at the start of a three-day inspection tour of the Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, and Western Regions.
The Minister indicated that government is aware of the socio-economic importance of roads towards national development, which is why road infrastructure development is being prioritized despite the financial constraints facing the country.
“No matter what we want to achieve—whether in farming, education, or healthcare—roads are critical. Our economic development cannot take shape if we do not address the challenges in the road sector,” he stressed.
Earlier, Me. Agbodza and his team of Engineers inspected the 10.20km Terchire bypass located off the Kumasi-Sunyani Highway constructed by Newmont Ghana.
During the tour, Hon. Agbodza is also expected to inspect several other road projects, including the reconstruction of the Jinijini-Sampa Road, the Tepa-Goso road, the Sefwi Wiawso town roads, the reconstruction of the Tarkwa-Agona Nkwanta road, the PTC Interchange project, and the dualization of the Takoradi-Agona Junction Road.
News
Mahama assents to Acts abolishing e-levy, betting tax and others
President John Dramani Mahama has fulfilled a key campaign promise by assenting to a set of acts that abolish the betting tax, e-Levy, and emissions tax, among others.
The signing, which has just been completed, in his office marks a major step in his administration’s efforts to reduce the financial burden on Ghanaians and drive economic growth.
The removal of these taxes was a central promise in the NDC’s manifesto aimed at easing the cost of living and encouraging business expansion.
Parliament on Wednesday, March 26, passed a bill to abolish the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy).
The repeal of the E-Levy has been widely welcomed by Ghanaians, who strongly opposed the tax.
The levy, which was introduced in 2022 by the previous New Patriotic Party administration, imposed a 1.5% tax on electronic transactions, including mobile money transfers, bank transfers, and online payments.
Since its introduction, there have been protests and public outcry, with critics arguing that it disproportionately affected low-income earners and the unbanked population.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
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