Ghana’s Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act 2024, Act 1121, is one of the most significant legal shifts for gender representation in the country’s history. It mandates minimum 30% representation for women in public offices, political parties, and public boards, with a roadmap to 50% by 2030.
For journalists, this is not just another parliamentary story but a structural change that affects hiring, appointments, elections, and resource allocation across every district.
Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey
It is against this background that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is rallying media support for the implementation of the Act.
To Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the media covering the Affirmative action well means moving beyond press releases and tracking what changes on the ground.
In a speech delivered at a Media Engagement on Thursday dubbed “ Implementation of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act 2024 Act 1121, the Minister emphasized the important role the media plays in socio-economic development of the country stressing the need for the media to prioritize reportage on its implementation.
She explained that the media’s key involvement in the implementation stages contributes to the accountability process.
“Help us disseminate the information on the Act for people to know the progress we’ve made.
The law is good but the implementation is the most important thing”, the Minister stressed.
The Krowor Member of Parliament also appealed to the media to take a critical interest in highlighting the objectives of the Affirmative action which she said includes promote gender equity, increase women’s participation in leadership, ensure equal opportunities for men and women and promote inclusive governance and national development.
“If the media explain what 30% minimum representation actually means in practice and break down timelines.
The law has phased targets. If the media show what’s due by 2026, 2028, and 2030, and tracks the implementation process, it would help in Ghana achieving the target”, Dr. Lartey emphasized.
The media, numbering about forty (40) selected from different media houses, pledged their commitment to intensify advocacy on the implementation of the Affirmative action Act.
Source :www.senaradioonline.com
