MINISTER PARTICIPATES IN NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND FEMALE LEADERSHIP

The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, participated in the National Dialogue on Affirmative Action and Breakfast Forum held on 28th March, 2025 – an Initiative by Glitz Africa Magazine.

The event, themed “Strengthening Female Leadership and Policy Influence,” brought together high-level female leaders and policy influencers from Ghana and beyond to discuss practical ways of enhancing women’s participation in leadership and governance.

Speaking at the forum, the Minister described the conversation as both timely and necessary, especially in the wake of Ghana’s recent passage of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121). She noted that the law, passed after nearly two decades of advocacy, is not just a document but a national commitment to ensuring that women are no longer underrepresented or unheard in decision-making spaces.

She shared key highlights from her recent participation in the ECOWAS High-Level Interactive Session during the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York, where it was revealed that at the current global pace, it could take over 100 years to bridge the gender gap.

Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey expressed optimism that platforms like the National Dialogue, which bring together seasoned leaders and emerging changemakers, have the potential to accelerate progress and reduce that timeline significantly.

In outlining Ghana’s steps toward implementing the Affirmative Action Act, she disclosed that H.E. John Dramani Mahama’s Government, through the Ministry of Gender, is finalizing the Legislative Instrument to support enforcement of the law, establishing a Gender Equity Committee to oversee compliance, and working towards meeting the 30% minimum quota for women in all political appointments.

The Minister further called for a collective national effort to strengthen female leadership through institutional commitment, intergenerational mentorship, and strong accountability mechanisms to ensure that the law does not remain on paper.

She emphasized that leadership should not be defined by gender, but by competence, vision, and inclusivity.

The Minister concluded her remarks with a call to action, urging all stakeholders to push for more women in leadership, challenge societal biases, and work toward achieving full gender parity in policy-making.