Women Urge President Mahama to Fulfill 30% Representation Promise

The Gender Center for Empowering Development West Africa (GenCED), in partnership with the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), has held a forum urging President John Dramani Mahama to fulfill his promise of ensuring at least 30% representation of women in his government.

GenCED’s mission is to increase women’s participation in decision-making processes and governance. The organization also conducts research on women’s experiences in policymaking and representation, aiming to enhance advocacy efforts and outreach initiatives to empower women and deepen their understanding of democratic processes.

The forum brought together key stakeholders, predominantly women, providing a platform to discuss inclusivity and the need to achieve gender equality and equity in governance.

Progress Toward Gender Equity

On July 30, 2024, Ghana’s Parliament unanimously passed the Affirmative Action Gender Equity Bill, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to promote women’s participation in governance. Efforts to enhance women’s involvement in decision-making date back to 1960 with the passage of the Representation of the People Act, which allowed 10 women to join the National Assembly.

The 1992 Constitution of Ghana affirms equality for all citizens, prohibits gender-based discrimination, and calls for regional and gender balance in recruitment and appointments to public offices. The Affirmative Action Bill aims to address longstanding inequalities faced by women in politics, the private sector, education, and health.

Call for Action

Speaking at the forum, Gifty Ocran, the Monitoring and Evaluation/Programs Officer at GenCED, expressed her desire to see more women in leadership roles in the upcoming government. She highlighted that out of the 276 Members of Parliament elected in the most recent general election, only 40 are women, emphasizing the need to bridge the gender gap in politics.

“This number should signal the need for increased efforts to empower women politically by providing visibility and knowledge about political party structures,” Ocran stated.

She also pointed out the challenges women face during elections in Ghana, including marginalization and limited representation in the media. “Women are often victimized and marginalized when it comes to elections. Media platforms rarely provide adequate opportunities for women to share their policies, which affects their participation and representation in governance,” she noted.

Ocran concluded by emphasizing the financial challenges many women face when competing with men during election campaigns. She called on political parties to create dedicated opportunities and resources to support women, ensuring their fair representation in the governance system.

By Madjid Diallo || GhanaNewsOnline