Emmanuel Akwetey, the executive director of the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), expressed optimism about the imminent passage of the Affirmative Action bill this year.
The bill, currently under consideration in Parliament and labelled urgent, aims to catalyse a significant shift towards gender equality within the country’s political space.
Having stayed in Parliament for over a decade, the proposed legislation seeks to revolutionise the political landscape by mandating a minimum reservation of 40% of public offices for women.
Akwetey’s positive outlook stems from the belief that the bill, once enacted, will serve as a pivotal step in promoting gender inclusivity and addressing the longstanding gender gap in political representation.
Speaking with Asaase News, Akwetey said, “We must look at human resources and development in general and I have told the women we work with that you can’t get the numbers in parliament unless they aspire to look at them.”
Akwetey emphasised the urgency and transformative potential of the Affirmative Action bill.
“The promise of the Affirmative Action bill lies in its potential to open doors for women to enter political offices through opportunities in local governance,” Akwetey said.
Reporting by Caleb Ahinakwah in Accra
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