20 Years of Change: Celebrating Ghana’s Women’s Manifesto
The Women’s Manifesto for Ghana, launched on September 2, 2004, is a blueprint for promoting gender justice and addressing women’s inequalities in the country.
The achievement stemmed from a nationwide mobilization spearheaded by women’s groups, professional associations, and various stakeholders.
However, 20 years later, progress in fully implementing the demands outlined in the manifesto’s ten critical areas of concern has been slower than expected.
Despite missed deadlines, there have been significant gains, including the recent passage of key gender-related laws that have amplified women’s voices.
In recognition of its anniversary, the manifesto is undergoing its third review to reflect changes in the socio-political and economic landscape of Ghana.
The celebration, held under the theme “WMC @ 20: Celebrating the Gains Through the Third Review Process,” honoured the strides made by Ghanaian women over the past two decades while also seeking to renew momentum for further advocacy.
At the event, Madam Hamida Harrisson, Convener of the Women’s Manifesto Coalition (WMC), highlighted the progress made since the manifesto’s launch.
She specifically praised the recent passage of the landmark Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act by Parliament, calling it “a game-changing piece of legislation” aimed at addressing the historical marginalization of women in Ghana.
The law reflects significant progress and serves as a tool to ensure gender equity in leadership and decision-making positions.
Lawyer Sheila Minkah-Premo, Convener of the Affirmative Action Coalition, emphasized that the passage of the Affirmative Action law was a major achievement.
She noted that while women make up over 50% of Ghana’s population, they occupy only 14.55% of seats in Parliament.
The new law seeks to address this imbalance by setting progressive targets for female representation across both public and private sectors, aiming for 50% gender parity by 2030 in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 5.
The passage of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act in July 2024 followed years of sustained advocacy by civil society organizations and collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection. The law now awaits Presidential assent to become fully enforceable.
READ ALSO:Amenfi East NDC Candidate Launches 2024 Election Campaign
Once implemented, it will require all sectors to meet specific gender representation targets and will introduce mechanisms to ensure compliance, including the establishment of a multi-sectoral Gender Equity Committee.
The law includes provisions to address gender disparities by introducing policies and strategies aimed at increasing women’s participation in governance and decision-making.
It also mandates private sector employers to create gender equity policies and report on their compliance regularly. Offenses under the law, such as obstructing women’s participation in public life or promoting gender-specific stereotypes, will be punishable by fines or imprisonment.
As the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act awaits full implementation, the women’s movement in Ghana remains steadfast in its efforts to ensure the law’s provisions are realized. “While we celebrate these achievements, the work is far from done,” Minkah-Premo concluded. “We must continue to push for the full realization of gender equality in every aspect of Ghanaian society.”
The 20th anniversary of the Women’s Manifesto for Ghana served not only as a celebration of past successes but also as a call to action for future progress, especially in ensuring the effective implementation of the new law to achieve gender equity by 2030.
Source: Isaac Kofi Dzokpo
