President John Dramani Mahama (L) and Speaker Alban Bagbin (R)
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has expressed concern over the gender imbalance in President John Dramani Mahama’s cabinet.
According to him, the appointment of women falls below the 30 percent benchmark stipulated by the Affirmative Action Act.
Speaking at an International Women’s Day event in Parliament on Monday, March 10, 2025, he questioned why the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection remains outside the cabinet.
“We have delayed long enough in passing the bill. Let us not apply the same wishy-washy attitude towards its implementation. I am not impressed with what I have seen so far regarding the leadership positions of women in Parliament, parliamentary committees, and senior government appointments. Even the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection is not a cabinet ministry,” he lamented.
He urged Parliament to lead by example in promoting gender equality and called for a review of leadership positions within the House.
“So, I call on the leadership, and I will lead the charge. They must consider the reconstitution of leadership in the House. We passed the law, so we must lead by example. Out of the 43 committees in Parliament, only four are chaired by women. And out of 19 ministers of state in the cabinet, only two are women. So, why did we spend all the resources and time to pass the law? We need to take action,” he added.
Alban Bagbin stressed the need for concrete steps to ensure the full implementation of the Affirmative Action Act, urging authorities to demonstrate their commitment to gender inclusivity.
JKB/MA
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