Gender equity in jeopardy as women excluded from key roles
By Christabel Oboshie ANNAN, Accra
The Affirmative Action Law Coalition has criticized the incoming government for completely excluding women from its newly established anti-corruption team.
The Coalition described this decision as a disregard for gender equity principles and a setback to efforts promoting inclusivity in governance.
In a press release issued on December 18, 2024, the Coalition also took aim at both the incumbent and incoming governments for failing to meet the legal gender quotas outlined in the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121).
Section 14 of the Act mandates that a minimum of 30% of all presidential appointments must be allocated to women.
The Coalition noted that the recently inaugurated transition team, jointly composed by the two administrations, includes only 4 women out of 23 members—just 16% representation, falling far short of the legal requirement.
“This blatant disregard for gender equity in decision-making processes is concerning and goes against the principles of gender equity and inclusivity that the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act aims to promote,” the Coalition stated.
Highlighting the importance of diverse leadership, the Coalition cited research showing that inclusive teams are more effective and make better decisions.
It called on both governments to address the gender imbalance immediately and comply with the legally mandated quotas.
“It is imperative that the government sets a positive example for gender equality and diversity in leadership positions,” the Convener of the Affirmative Action Law Coalition noted. The Coalition’s remarks add pressure on the government to ensure gender equity in appointments, particularly in key decision-making roles, as part of broader efforts to promote inclusivity and sustainable development.
