Affirmative Action law must be enforced to deliver true gender equality – Minkah-Premo

The convenor of the Affirmative Action Law Coalition, Sheila Minkah-Premo, has emphasized that the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121) will only achieve its purpose if it is properly enforced across Ghana’s governance and policymaking structures.

She explained that although the law’s passage in July 2024 marked a historic win after over a decade of advocacy, real progress would depend on how institutions and leaders commit to implementation. 

According to her, the Act sets clear benchmarks, including a requirement that women occupy at least 30 percent of governance and decision-making roles by 2026, a target she cautioned must not be treated lightly.

Minkah-Premo made the remarks at the opening of a two-day stakeholder workshop on family law reform in Accra, organized by the Initiative for Gender Equality and Development in Africa (IGED-Africa) with support from the Solidarity of African Women’s Rights (SOAWR) Coalition and hosted by Equality Now. The workshop, held from September 10–11, 2025, brought together policymakers, legal experts, and civil society to push Ghana’s family law reform agenda.

The gathering placed emphasis on accelerating progress on long-delayed bills such as the Property Rights of Spouses Bill and the Interstate Succession Bill, both of which are essential to strengthening women’s economic and social rights. Participants noted that addressing these legislative gaps, while also enforcing the Affirmative Action Act, could provide a more comprehensive framework for gender equality.

The Affirmative Action law itself outlines a phased approach: women’s representation in governance should rise to 30 percent by 2026, 35 percent by 2028, and reach parity (50 percent) by 2034. A Gender Equity Committee has been established to monitor compliance and certify institutions that meet the benchmarks.

Despite the legal framework, Minkah-Premo warned of early challenges. She pointed to non-compliance in presidential appointments, funding shortfalls for the Gender Equity Committee, and delays in setting up enforcement structures as signs that implementation was already at risk.

She further stressed that cultural norms, stereotypes, and patriarchal systems continued to hold back women’s representation. While women make up more than half of Ghana’s population, their representation in Parliament is currently only 14.8 percent, with just 41 women out of 276 MPs.

The Convenor highlighted that the law not only fulfills constitutional expectations but also aligns Ghana with international obligations such as CEDAW, the Maputo Protocol, and the Beijing Platform for Action. She underscored that lasting change will depend on strong advocacy, citizen engagement, and holding leaders accountable.

Participants at the workshop agreed that coalition-building, public education, and systematic monitoring would be crucial in sustaining momentum. They argued that enforcing the Affirmative Action Act alongside reforming family laws would create stronger protections for women and help build a more inclusive governance system.