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