Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, has described the Affirmative Action Act as a fundamental democratic necessity and not a favour done to women.

As Ghana marks the first anniversary of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act 2024, key actors from government, academia, civil society, and the legal sector gathered at the University of Ghana for a high-level dialogue to evaluate progress, examine persistent gaps, and push for bold implementation strategies to realise the promise of gender equity.

Addressing the gathering, Prof. Appiah Amfo highlighted the role of the Affirmative Action Act in dismantling systemic barriers.

“This Act is not a favour to women, it is a democratic imperative and a strategic necessity for building a resilient and prosperous Ghana, yet as the data repeatedly shows, women remain underrepresented in decision-making spaces, parliament, local governance and in corporate spaces”, she noted.

The event organised by the University of Ghana’s Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy (CEGENSA) on July 31, 2025, was held at the ISSER Conference Hall in partnership with the Ministry of Gender,
Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), Netright Ghana and the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), as part of activities commemorating Pan-African Women’s Day, honour the contributions of African women to social transformation and political change.

Programmes Director at the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection, Anastasia Asare, who spoke on behalf of the sector minister, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, underscored the crucial role of academia and civil society organisations in championing awareness of the Affirmative Action Act, expressing the ministry’s commitment.

The policy dialogue, themed “The Affirmative Action Act 2024: Implementation, Progress and Challenges,” brought together over 300 participants.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Deborah Atobrah, Director of CEGENSA, highlighted the need to reflect on strides made and the changes that can be made to the legislation.

“This Act is not just a legislative win. It is a constitutional imperative to protect the rights of all citizens. One year later, we must ask, what has changed, and for whom?” she said.

Coordinator of the Affirmative Action Bill Coalition, Becky Ahadzi (Esq), also indicated that the lack of specificity in the law could create a lot of bottlenecks, causing individuals and institutions to flee accountability.

“We must have a collective priority ensuring compliance with the 30% target by 2026 for all and sundry in the private and public sector, but there seems to be a weakness in our politics, and if it is not rectified, we cannot hold the private sector to comply,” she noted.

Victoria Nyavor, Programs Officer at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, further indicated that despite formal passage, operational provisions such as the establishment of Affirmative Action Units in ministries and the activation of gender parity compliance audits have not
been implemented at scale.

“We need to develop and implement policies that promote gender equity and hold stakeholders accountable for progress. The need to continuously track and address gender gaps in various sectors cannot be overstated,” she pointed out.

The Act mandates:
?A minimum 30% representation of women in all public decision-making bodies
?Institutional reforms to ensure gender equity in political parties, local governance,
and recruitment processes
?The establishment of structures to monitor and evaluate gender balance in
appointments and promotions
?Sanctions for non-compliance by public institutions

About CEGENSA
The Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy (CEGENSA) at the University of Ghana is a pioneer in advancing gender equality in Ghana and across Africa. Our work encompasses a dynamic combination of research, advocacy, mentorship, education and training – all with the aim of building an equitable and inclusive society in which gender equality drives progress.