The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has convened a successful two-day high-level strategic retreat to accelerate the effective implementation of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121).
The retreat brought together key stakeholders from government, development agencies, civil society, academia, and the private sector.
Participants included members of the Ministry’s Advisory Board, Parliamentarians, the newly constituted Gender Equity Committee, representatives from key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and Development Partners such as UNDP Ghana, UN Women, UNICEF Ghana, and the World Food Programme.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, described the passage of the Act in July 2024 as a historic milestone in Ghana’s quest for gender equity, inclusive governance, and sustainable national development.
“The Act is a transformative legal framework that seeks to progressively increase women’s representation in decision-making across both public and private sectors, targeting at least 30% by 2026 and 50% by 2034,” the Minister stated.
She noted that the Ministry has commenced drafting a Legislative Instrument (L.I.) to operationalize the Act. In the interim, copies of the law have been distributed to MDAs, MMDAs, security agencies, and other stakeholders.
Advocacy materials and infographics have also been developed to support nationwide sensitisation and training.
The retreat’s first day focused on deepening participants’ understanding of the Act’s key provisions and the roles of stakeholders in ensuring its success.
The Minister also welcomed the newly appointed Gender Equity Committee members, whose nominations were recently approved by the Office of the President.
She expressed confidence in their capacity to provide technical and strategic direction.
Day Two was devoted to developing a strategic implementation framework, including timelines, coordination mechanisms, and actionable strategies to guide the rollout of the Act.
Activities included technical briefings, panel discussions, and working group sessions.
A key moment was the formal swearing-in of the Gender Equity Committee by Hon. Dr. Lartey. Members took both the Oath of Office and the Oath of Secrecy.
The Committee is tasked with advising the Minister on policies and programs related to gender equity and the implementation of the Act.
Also inaugurated during the retreat was the Ministry’s Advisory Board, in accordance with Section 39 of the Civil Service Act, 1993 (PNDCL 327).
The Board will provide guidance on strategic planning and policy alignment and foster regular engagement between the Ministry and key stakeholders.
Both the Gender Equity Committee and the Advisory Board will be chaired by the Hon. Minister.
The Minister concluded the retreat with a call for collective national ownership of the implementation process.
She emphasized that the full realisation of the Affirmative Action Act’s objectives requires the commitment of government, civil society, development partners, the media, academia, and local communities.
She extended appreciation to UN Women, UNICEF, UNDP, the World Food Programme, and the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) Ghana Chapter for their technical and logistical support in organizing the retreat.
Source: Myxyzonline.com
