The Affirmative Action Law (AAL) Coalition has appealed to Ghanaians to support female candidates in the upcoming December 2024 general elections and denounce gender-based attacks in politics.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, Becky Enyonam Ahadzi, Coordinator of the AAL Coalition, emphasized the need to foster an inclusive political environment, urging voters to back women aspiring to leadership positions.
“We ask the public to refrain from gender-specific attacks and instead encourage the women standing on the ballot,” she stated.
Underrepresentation of Women in Politics
Madam Ahadzi highlighted the stark gender disparity in Ghana’s political landscape, noting that although women constitute over 50% of the population, they remain grossly underrepresented in leadership roles.
“Currently, women hold just 40 out of 276 parliamentary seats, representing a mere 14.55% of the legislature,” she said.
She pointed to the new Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act as a critical tool in addressing this gap. The Act mandates a minimum of 30% representation for women in decision-making roles by 2026, with an ambitious target of 50% by 2030.
Citing the Act’s provisions, she called on voters to support the approximately 100 female parliamentary candidates contesting in the elections, stressing that women’s active participation in politics is crucial for addressing the needs of the majority population.
Supporting Women’s Political Engagement
Complementing the Coalition’s advocacy, ABANTU for Development, a gender-focused organization, has launched an election monitoring initiative aimed at promoting women’s political participation in five districts across three regions:
- Ashanti Region: Adansi Asokwa
- Greater Accra Region: Ga West and Tema West
- Eastern Region: Birim Central and West Akim
Mary Akromah, Senior Programmes Officer at ABANTU, explained that the initiative, supported by Star Ghana Foundation and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, seeks to create direct pathways for women’s involvement in politics.
“Our project is about creating opportunities for women to enter political leadership,” she noted, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among political parties, civil society, media, and development partners in supporting women candidates.
Call to Action
The AAL Coalition and its partners are urging all stakeholders to work together to dismantle the structural and societal barriers preventing women from assuming leadership roles.
“Unless women have a voice at the table, issues affecting the majority will continue to be overlooked,” Ahadzi stressed.
With targeted support and widespread advocacy, the Coalition believes the December 2024 elections could mark a turning point in Ghana’s quest for gender equity in political representation.
