Ghana’s Affirmative Action Gender Equality Act explained

Female lawmakers have described the law as a strong statement for the empowerment drive.

Abla Dzifa Gomashie MP, whose constituency is in south-east Ghana, told the BBC she hoped it would “cure the cultural, political and economic discrimination against women and minority groups – especially that of the disability community.”

“We must kick in the advocacy as soon as possible to ensure that state agencies and institutions get on board and educate the populace on the expectation that this law carries,” she added.

But some advocates and activist groups who welcome the law worry that it will not be properly enforced.

“In the midst of the joy, there are fears – we fear that for example where political parties are required to play a role, they may not necessarily do what they have to do,” Dinah Adiko, a technical consultant who previously worked with Ghana’s gender ministry, told the BBC.

“We fear that the supervision of it, regulation… What are the biting powers to actively implement this law? Those are some of the reservations. But for the moment we are excited to see this come to light.”