Affirmative Action Act: ABANTU, Coalition Charge Media to Strengthen Implementation
Civil society groups urge journalists to promote accurate reporting and public understanding of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act to support its effective implementation and advance women’s representation in Ghana.
ABANTU for Development and the Affirmative Action Law Coalition (AALC) have called on the media to play a stronger role in promoting public understanding and supporting the implementation of Ghana’s Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121).
The two civil society organisations say persistent misconceptions and misinformation about the law could undermine its effective implementation if not addressed through accurate public education.
As Ghana works toward achieving a minimum of 30 percent representation of women across all sectors by September 2026, as required under the Act, the organisations say misunderstandings surrounding the law’s provisions, obligations, and timelines continue to generate resistance.
To address these concerns, the groups organised a media training workshop in Accra aimed at equipping journalists with accurate knowledge of the law and its implementation process.
The workshop was organised by the AALC and hosted by ABANTU for Development with support from the STAR Ghana Foundation.
Speaking at the event, a member of the AALC Steering Committee, Joana Opare, said although the Act received presidential assent in September 2024 after being passed by Parliament in July the same year, public understanding of its provisions remains limited.
According to her, misreporting and misconceptions surrounding the law have contributed to confusion among sections of the public, posing a potential threat to its acceptance and implementation.
She stressed the critical role of the media in ensuring accurate reporting and raising awareness about the importance of the legislation.
“The media must understand the significance of the law and help educate citizens on its objectives and benefits,” she said.
Madam Opare explained that the training workshop was designed to equip journalists with the knowledge required to report accurately on the legislation and promote informed public discourse.
Providing a background to the law, Convener of the AALC, Shella Minka-Premo, said the main objective of the Act is to promote gender equity in the political, social, economic, educational, and cultural spheres of society.
She explained that the implementation of the law will be progressive and subject to periodic evaluation to assess progress toward its targets.
Mrs. Minka-Premo added that government is expected to promote policies and programmes aimed at addressing gender imbalances in both the public and private sectors.
She also noted that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Act.
Despite challenges in the early stages of implementation, she disclosed that a Gender Equity Committee has been established to monitor compliance with the law.
The committee is expected to receive and analyse annual reports from institutions and organisations on efforts made toward achieving gender balance and provide recommendations where necessary.
Mrs. Minka-Premo urged journalists to prioritise gender equity reporting and use the knowledge gained from the workshop to promote accurate coverage of issues relating to the Act.
She noted that the media remains a key partner in ensuring that the objectives of the Affirmative Action Act are successfully realised in Ghana.
By Margaret Esaah Boakye
