Ghana Creates Greater Hope for Gender Equality in Sub-Saharan Africa

The Gender Equity Bill signed into law creates hope for a more progressive future in Ghana. (Photo: Austria Institute of International Affairs)

On Sept. 19, 2024, the Ghanaian government signed into effect a bill that hopes to promote increased gender equality in Ghana. Entitled the “Affirmative Action (Gender Equality) Bill, 2024”, the new law puts a 30% - 50% quota of women representatives in various spheres of life from governmental committees to trade union memberships, which will be in effect by 2030. 

The law also encourages private companies to increase female employment with tax incentives. It requires government agencies to participate in gender-responsive budgeting by outlining budgets that deal with gender inequality. This is a vital part of the law since many women in Ghana are “refused access to education and political participation,” according to Human Rights Watch. 

While it may seem like a huge step, the bill was first introduced and has been in the works since 1998. The two-party system government has held strong promises of passing the Gender Equality bill, but has taken significant time to follow through with their goals. The long history of promises of equality for women, only to be broken upon elections, demonstrates the nation’s representatives' lack of dedication to the cause. 

In particular, concerns have been raised regarding the quality of enforcement of the law. The bill mandates fines and up to 12 months in prison for gender discrimination, harassment, and hate speech, but Ghana's enforcement of gender-related laws has historically been inconsistent and weak. Despite the legal frameworks that exist, enforcement remains inconsistent seeing that oversight of these laws fall to the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection—one of the most underfunded agencies in the Ghanaian government. 

Strong Activism in Ghana. (Photo: Amnesty International)

Activists in Ghana explain that while the law may help move the nation in a more progressive direction, it is not just the nation’s laws that require change, but also the mentality of their people. A lawyer from the Affirmative Action Coalition group, Sheila Minkah-Premo, explains that the heart of the issue in Ghana is that “women are not seen as natural leaders. There’s [instead] a tendency to push women aside and ensure that leadership is held by men,” which Minkah-Premo believes to be the crux of prolonged gender-based inequity in Ghana.

Nevertheless, many activists remain optimistic that the new law will push Ghana into a new era, propelling them towards a future of equality. This law is one of many that are being brought into the Sub-Saharan Africa legislature. Ghana is joining nations such as Rwanda, Burundi, Sierra Leone, and more to create Affirmative Action laws. 

As of Sept. 1, 2024, five African countries ranked in the top 20 for the percentage of women in national parliaments, with Rwanda at No. 1, Namibia at No. 6, Senegal at No. 12, and Mozambique at No. 20. This paints an image of a progressive future for sub-Saharan Africa with Ghana joining the movement towards equality.