The Affirmative Action Coalition has dismissed concerns that the Affirmative Action Act will provide women with an unfair advantage over men.
The Affirmative Action Gender Equity Bill 2024, which has been under parliamentary consideration since 2011, was finally passed unanimously by the House yesterday.
The bill now awaits Presidential assent to become law.
It aims to ensure that a significant number of women hold key positions in governance, public life, and decision-making spaces, thereby improving the lives of women in the country.
Additionally, the bill seeks to address socio-cultural, political, economic, and educational gender imbalances in both the private and public sectors, as outlined in Clause 4 of Article 17 of the 1992 Constitution. Comprising 34 clauses and six schedules, the bill calls for equal representation and participation of women and men—50/50 percent—in governance, public positions of power, and all state decision-making processes.
While the bill has received mixed reactions regarding its fairness, Sheila Minkah-Premo, convener of the Affirmative Action Coalition, stated that it will not provide women with an unfair advantage over men.
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Story by: Osei Akoto (Teacher Kojo) #Ahotoronline.com
