Dr. Aurelia Ayisi, a gender advocate and lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, is excited about the Affirmative Action Bill (AAB) passed by parliament.
Dr. Ayisi, while acknowledging that the passage of the AAB is a significant achievement, emphasized that substantial work remains ahead.
Speaking on A1 Radio’s Equal Voices, the lecturer said the bill’s impact extends beyond improving the status of women to offering benefits to society at large. She emphasized the importance of extensive stakeholder engagement to ensure effective implementation.
She pointed out potential challenges, particularly the cultural barriers that may discourage women from pursuing leadership roles due to societal conditioning. She stressed the need for educational initiatives targeting both women and men to shift these attitudes.
Looking ahead, Dr. Ayisi anticipates a concerted effort from the government to implement the bill, particularly within political spheres. She also urged the major political parties in Ghana to make explicit gender commitments in their manifestos, ensuring that promises translate into tangible increases in female leadership positions in future administrations.
“I would be very surprised if the two dominant political parties that we have in Ghana do not make a strong and clear gender statement both in their manifestos and in their political promises.”
“It should go beyond promises so that we can see a higher percentage of women in leadership positions in the next government,” she stated.
Source: A1Radioonline.Com|101.1MHZ|Gifty Eyram Kudiabor|Bolgatanga|
