The Affirmative Action Law Coalition is calling on government to urgently amend portions of the Affirmative Action and Gender Equity Act, 2024 (Act 1121), to address enforcement gaps and accelerate full implementation.
At a National Dialogue held in Accra, Convener Sheila Minkah-Premo raised concern over the absence of punitive clauses in Section 20 of the Act, as well as gaps in Articles 93 and 94 of the 1992 Constitution, which she says make it difficult to hold institutions accountable for non-compliance.
“We know the Ministry has been making efforts to get it done, but we think it should be sped up. There are limitations, and that’s affecting progress”.
The Coalition is also pushing for the swift passage of Legislative Instruments (LIs), which are vital for translating the broader mandates of the law into actionable regulations.
“There’s an Act of Parliament Act 1121 but without the LIs, it’s like building a house without doors. We’re happy a committee has been set up to draft them, but urgency is key”.
According to Minkah-Premo, a lack of resources is impeding efforts to translate and simplify the Act for broader public understanding.
“Disseminating information is not easy in this country. We need funds to translate the law into local languages, summarize it, and make it accessible. It’s not just for the public sector private institutions with gender policies are also affected.”
The Gender Equality Committee (GEC), which is mandated to lead sensitization and advocacy, was urged to collaborate more closely with civil society organizations to extend outreach, particularly in underserved regions.
Despite these challenges, the Coalition remains committed to working with relevant institutions to ensure that the Act does not remain merely symbolic.
“This is a transformative law. But without clear enforcement mechanisms and broader awareness, it won’t deliver the change we’re all hoping for”.
