*"Parliament Marks International Day with Bold Commitment to Gender Equality"* The Rt Hon Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has emphasized that, Ghana's

*"Parliament Marks International Day with Bold Commitment to Gender Equality"* The Rt Hon Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has emphasized that, Ghana's parliament is working to promote inclusive law-making and increase women's representation in decision-making processes as currently, women hold 40 out of 275 seats, accounting for 14.5% of parliamentary representation. Giving his remarks and launch of the international day parliamentarianism and official launch of the open Parliament Action Plan, he added that, this percentage has seen gradual growth, from 8% in 1995, but remains a topic of discussion among policymakers and stakeholders. Ensuring women's involvement in legislative planning to increase their influence on laws and policies. According to the Rt Hon Speaker Bagbin, Ghana's Affirmative Action Gender Equity Act 2024, also known as Act 11:21, aims to increase women's representation in governance and decision-making processes. The Act sets targets

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Published on 07/01/2025 20:39

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*"Parliament Marks International Day with Bold Commitment to Gender Equality"*

The Rt Hon Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has emphasized that, Ghana's parliament is working to promote inclusive law-making and increase women's representation in decision-making processes as currently, women hold 40 out of 275 seats, accounting for 14.5% of parliamentary representation.

Giving his remarks and launch of the international day parliamentarianism and official launch of the open Parliament Action Plan, he added that, this percentage has seen gradual growth, from 8% in 1995, but remains a topic of discussion among policymakers and stakeholders.

Ensuring women's involvement in legislative planning to increase their influence on laws and policies.

According to the Rt Hon Speaker Bagbin, Ghana's Affirmative Action Gender Equity Act 2024, also known as Act 11:21, aims to increase women's representation in governance and decision-making processes.

The Act sets targets for gender representation, including

- *30% representation by 2026*

- *35% representation by 2028*

- *50% representation by 2030*

The law applies to both public and private sectors, and Parliament is expected to lead by example in implementing the Act.

He urge the government to take tangible actions to implement the law, emphasizing that lip service is not enough.

Despite the passage of the Act, implementation has been slow, with no clear roadmap outlined by the government.

He added that women currently hold less than 15% of seats in Ghana's 275-member parliament, with Ghana ranking 119th in political empowerment globally.

He outlined some measures to solve the challenges affecting the bill. He said constitutional reforms needed to ensure women are well-represented in decision-making processes.

He called for a debate on the 24-hour economy policy to assess its potential impact and make necessary adjustments.

Initiatives that prepare women for leadership roles can help bridge the gender gap and promote inclusive governance.

Report by PKB