The People’s National Party (PNP) has expressed confidence in the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to assent to the Affirmative Action Bill swiftly.
The Bill was passed by the Eighth Parliament on Tuesday, July 30 after decades of back and forth in the House.
“We commend the current Parliament for its historic decision, even under pressure, affirming that it is the most progressive Parliament since the inception of our democracy,” the party said in a press statement on Tuesday.
Signed by the Chairperson and leader Janet Asana Nabla, the statement further said: “We are confident that President Nana Akufo-Addo, a renowned human rights activist who has advocated for affirmative action within his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), will swiftly append his signature to the bill, allowing Ghana to join the ranks of African nations such as South Africa, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania that have already enacted similar legislation.”
The PNP expressed gratitude to the international community for “their support”.
It singled out some women advocacy groups such as Abantu, Women Manifesto Coalition, Affirmative Action Coalition and the various political parties for commendation.
Ghana first ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1986, committing to enact legislation that would ensure 40% representation of women in governmental positions.
Despite this commitment and a subsequent treaty signed at the Beijing Conference in 1995 for a 30% representation, the Bill remained unpassed until Tuesday.
Source:onuaonline.com