The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has announced that steps are underway to constitute the Gender Equity Committee that will oversee the implementation of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024.
The ministry made this known on Tuesday, June 24, at a national dialogue on the implementation of the Act held in Accra.
The event was organised by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) in partnership with the Global Center for Pluralism (GCP) and the Affirmative Action Coalition.
The Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act was passed in July 2024, and received presidential assent in September same year, followed decades of advocacy by civil society, women’s groups, and gender activists.
It mandates a progressive increase in women’s representation in leadership, from a minimum of 30% by 2026 to 50% by 2034, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 5.
Nearly a year since the Act was passed, key structures required to operationalise it remain unfulfilled, which has prompted concerns among stakeholders about the government’s commitment.
Responding to these concerns, a representative of the ministry, speaking on behalf of Gender Minister Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, announced that work had advanced on setting up the Gender Equity Committee.
“In accordance with the Act, the Ministry has started putting the necessary measures to constitute the Gender Equity Committee to guide and oversee the implementation of key provisions of the law. I am happy to report that the list of nominees has been compiled and forwarded to the Office of the President for review and approval,” he said.
The Gender Equity Committee is a critical body mandated by the Act to ensure and monitor compliance with its provisions across public and private institutions.
The ministry added that a proposed strategic plan for the Committee’s Secretariat has also been submitted to the Ministry of Finance for funding.
As part of broader implementation efforts, the ministry revealed that initial consultations have begun with the Office of the Attorney General for the drafting of a Legislative Instrument (LI) to support enforcement, assuring that nationwide consultations will be held to inform the LI.
