Ghana’s Gender Equality Act Finalized: A Historic Turning Point
Nearly 30 years after it was first introduced, the Gender Equality Act has been finally passed into law in Ghana. The Act paves the way for a major societal transformation by allowing Ghanaian women to access more leadership positions.
President Nana Akufo-Addo signs the law into law
Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo signed the Affirmative Action and Gender Equality Act into law last week. The signing comes three months before the December 7 presidential election, marking the end of his term. The law, passed by parliament in July, requires public institutions, security services, the judiciary, political parties, trade unions and the private sector to promote gender equality. It sets a target of 50% of public service positions to be filled by women by 2030, while less than 15% of current parliamentarians are women.
Quotas and tax benefits for the private sector
The private sector is also affected by the law, which provides for the establishment of quotas reserving positions for women. In return, companies will benefit from tax advantages. Currently, only 27% of management positions in the private sector are held by women, according to the World Bank.
A step forward towards unleashing women’s potential
Celestine Damoah, Advocacy Officer at the Centre for Democracy and Socio-Economic Development, underscores the importance of the law, saying: “This is more than just a law, it is the key to unlocking the potential of generations of women who have been waiting for their moment to rise up.”
A long legislative process
The first draft of the law was introduced in parliament in 1998, but it was only after several attempts and nearly 30 years of debate that it was finally passed. Both of the country’s main political parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), have included gender equality measures in their respective platforms.
Political parties’ promises for gender equality
The NDC is committed to establishing a Women’s Development Bank to provide soft loans to women-owned businesses. The NPP, for its part, is proposing the establishment of a Women’s Trade Empowerment Fund (WoTEF) to support women-owned businesses.
Persistent challenges in a conservative society
Despite the optimism surrounding the law’s passage, questions remain about its implementation. Ghanaian society remains overwhelmingly conservative, with high rates of domestic violence: 38.7% of married women aged 15 to 49 reported experiencing violence, according to a 2016 government report. For Rodaline Imoru Ayarna, a member of the Alliance for Revolutionary Change, it is crucial to “change mentalities” and show that “women can do the same job as men, if not better.”
