Akufo-Addo signs Gender Equity Bill into law

This is according to a post shared on X on Thursday, September 19, 2024, by Asaase 99.5.

The post indicated that the president assented to the Affirmative Action Bill on Thursday.

The post, which had a picture of President Nana. Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was captioned: “[JUST IN] Akufo-Addo signs affirmative action bill into law.”

The Parliament of Ghana passed the Affirmative Action Bill, which aims to effectively address social, cultural, economic, and political gender imbalances in the country, on July 30, 2024.

The bill, which had been in parliament for more than a decade, is expected to restore the imbalances, which stem from historical discrimination against women and persistent patriarchal socio-cultural systems and norms.

The bill also seeks to ensure gender equity in both the public and private sectors.

Speaking on the passage in Parliament on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, noted, “Honourable members, the ‘ayes’ have it. The Affirmative Action Gender Equity Bill 2024 is now the Affirmative Action Gender Equity Act, duly read the third time and passed.”

The Parliament has been lauded for the passage of the bill by many stakeholders, including human rights advocacy groups, which many say will help boost gender equality in Ghana.