The Trade Union Congress (TUC) Ghana has called on the government to pass the Affirmative Action Bill now.
The Affirmative Action Bill seeks to increase women participation and representation and participation in governance, public positions of power and all decision-making bodies of the country.
Additionally, it also requires all sectors to reserve a percentage of their employment for women, whilst the Bill encourages Political parties to adopt voluntary party quotas to promote women’s participation in party politics.
Also, the bill ensures that public institutions adopt gender policies, including recruitment policies, aimed at achieving a balanced structuring of those institutions in terms of gender.
In spite of the critical role of the Affirmative Action Bill, its passage has been hanging in the balance for over a decade.
Speaking to Starr News in Koforidua on Monday, March 9, 2020, at the Commemoration of International Women’s Day by the TUC on the theme “Each for Equal-An Equal World is an Enabled World”, the Head of Gender and Children Protection at TUC, Alberta Laryea Djan said the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill is long overdue hence called on government to ensure Parliament passes the bill.
“The affirmative action bill has been in existence for almost 14 years, and as at now it has still not been passed and women within Trade Union we think that government who seems to be a Gender Advocate should ratify this affirmative action, make sure that parliament pass this Affirmative Action Bill to help women to get into positions of influence. Affirmative Action bill must be passed now”.
Esther Oware Annor of Anglican Educational Unit called on all women in the country to unite and pile pressure on the government, “this time around, we need to come, united and force our way through to ensure the passage of the Bill”.
Citizens Francis Tetteh, Eastern Regional Youth Chairman at TUC who was a facilitator at the event, said equality for women has come to help national development and not to take the place of men, therefore, called on stakeholders to accept calls for equality to reflect decision making.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh