IWD 2021: Prioritise Affirmative Action Bill in Parliament – CDD-GHANA
In commemoration of International Women’s Day (IWD) marked around the world today, Monday, 8 March 2021, the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), is calling on stakeholders to prioritise the laying of affirmative action bill before parliament.
The Affirmative action bill is meant to increase the representation of particular groups such as women in areas in which they are underrepresented such as education, employment and governance.
According to CDD-Ghana, It is disappointing to note that close to three decades of the Fourth Republican Constitution, Ghana has been unable to put measures in place to actualize Article 35 (6) which mandates the State to “take appropriate measures to achieve reasonable regional and gender balance in the recruitment and appointment to public offices” despite the immense contribution of women to political life.
“The implementation of similar progressive policies in international treaties and charters and legal instruments put in place by the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other regional bodies, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Beijing Platform for Action and the Sustainable Development Goals which have all been signed/ratified by Ghana, have regrettably suffered the same fate,” the Centre said in a statement.
The Center noted that it acknowledges the marginal increase in female representation in the 8th Parliament which is at approximately 15 percent from the previous figure of approximately 13 percent in the 7th Parliament.
It stated that although this figure is the highest so far under the Fourth Republic representing a double of female representation during the first Parliament in 1992, more commitment is needed to enable Ghana to achieve equality not only in Parliament but at all levels governance structure by addressing the deep-seated patriarchal norms which influence perceptions of women’s capabilities and roles, high cost of election campaign, intra-party discrimination against women, sociocultural factors which impede the full participation of women in public life and decision making levels including poor policy implementation and lack of policies that promotes equality and equity.
As an important step to overcoming these barriers, CDD-Ghana reiterated calls for the government to urgently lay the over a decade old Affirmative Action Bill before Parliament for its review and immediate passage.
The passage of the affirmative action bill according to CDD-Ghana will present a great opportunity for the country to benefit from the contribution of more than half of its population and would significantly promote equality in participation and representation in decision making processes.
The Centre reminded the government that for Ghana to achieve the vision of leaving no one behind in the pursuit of inclusive and sustainable development, as propounded in Agenda 2030, more decisive action, is needed to ensure inclusive, effective and democratic participation of all citizens.
“The only means to end the stark realities on the ground with respect to the continued and entrenched gender disparities and inequalities in almost all areas of our national life is to see the realization of Article 35 (6),” the statement said.
CDD-Ghana also encouraged every Ghanaian woman to #ChooseToChallenge and call out gender bias and inequality which is hindering their access and participation in leadership.
“All advocates for gender equity, especially Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) should not relent in their efforts, but rather, intensify their advocacy campaign towards the successful passage of the Affirmative Action Bill to help deepen Ghana’s democracy which must be inclusive of all,” the statement concluded.
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