Women group advocate for institutionalization of affirmative action Policies

The Kaana Manga Women Association in the Navrongo Municipality of the Upper East Region has called on the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection to facilitate the institutionalization of affirmative action policies across state and non-state agencies.

According to the group, embedding these policies into institutions is essential for ensuring the effective implementation of the Affirmative Action Law, which can help bridge the gender gap and advance the Sustainable Development Goal of inclusivity.

The Chairperson of the association, Mrs. Florence Bobi, made this appeal during this year’s International Women’s Day celebration held in Navrongo on Saturday under the theme, “Accelerate Action for Gender Equality.”

The event was organized by Our Lady of Mercy Community Services (OLAM), a gender-focused NGO, with support from the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and the German Embassy in Ghana. It brought together various stakeholders to discuss strategies for promoting gender equality.

While commending the government for passing the Affirmative Action Bill into law, Mrs. Bobi stressed that more needed to be done to empower women. She called for a clear policy directive requiring both state and non-state agencies to ensure equal representation of women in leadership and managerial positions.

"Despite some progress in gender equality, most state institutions, including the education sector, remain male-dominated. We need strong policy measures to break this trend," she emphasized.

A member of the association and Assemblywoman, Ms. Anastasia A. Musah, highlighted the group's advocacy efforts, including radio campaigns and community outreach programs, aimed at reforming cultural practices that hinder the progress of women and children.

She identified parental neglect, particularly by fathers, as a major challenge affecting young girls, stating, “Many teenage pregnancies in this area are a direct result of this issue.”

The Executive Director of OLAM, Emmanuel Atiiga, commended the Kaana Manga Women Association for its dedication to gender advocacy, noting that their efforts contributed to the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill.

However, he encouraged the group to intensify its campaign to empower more women, urging them to step forward and take up leadership roles in service to the nation.