Pass Affirmatiive Action Bill – Council of State Member

Naa Seidu Braimah, Member of the Council of State has called for the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill into law after the drafting of the Legislation on it.

Naa Braimah, who is also the chief of Guli, in the Wa Municipality, said it was increasingly becoming evident that without a mandatory Affirmative Action policy, expected changes that could lead to an increase in women representation in national politics will be a nine-day wonder in Ghana.

The Member of Council of State made the call during the Regional Consultation Forum on the Bill, organised by the Department of Women in Wa.

He said in spite of the several UN Charters and conventions signed and ratified by Ghana in which it committed to have 30 percent representation of women in decision making process, women still accounted for only 8.3 percent representation in Parliament, down from 15% in 2004.

According to him, without a mandatory Affirmative Action Policy, Ghana may miss achieving its Millennium Development Goal (MDG 3) target with regards to the proportion of seats held by women in Parliament.

Naa Braimah said it was only when women were adequately empowered that hunger and poverty would be eradicated, adding that an Affirmative Action law would ensure commitment and readiness for change and development.

Ms. Patience Opoku, National Director of the Department of Women, stated that valuable contributions made by women towards development were now being recognised globally, hence, the struggle to have an Affirmative Action policy in place to increase women participation in the decision making process at all levels of development.

Alhaji Issahaku Saliah, Out-going Upper West Regional Minister said Government was committed to ensure that women were adequately represented in the decision making process.

The Affirmative Action policy guideline calls for 40 percent representation of women in appointments to public service, committees and boards.

He urged participants to be very dispassionate in their deliberations so that in the end their proposals would serve the interest of the nation.

Source: GNA