The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has called on the media to play an active role in the implementation of the Affirmative Action Gender Equity Act, 2024 (Act 1121), aimed at promoting gender equality and increasing women’s participation in leadership and decision making across the country.
She made this call during a media engagement on Thursday, in Accra.
She noted that, the passage of the Affirmative Action Act is a major step in Ghana’s efforts to achieve inclusive national development and address longstanding gender disparities in the political, economic, educational and social sectors.
She stated that the Act reflects Ghana’s commitment to fairness, accountability, and the empowerment of women in line with international frameworks, including the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the African Union Maputo Protocol and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5 on gender equality.
According to her, the Act establishes legally binding targets to improve gender balance in leadership and governance, while also mandating institutions to adopt gender responsive policies and accountability measures in both the public and private sectors.
“This is a law for the people of Ghana, and its success depends on awareness, acceptance and active public participation,” she said.
Dr. Naa Momo Lartey stated that the media remains a key stakeholder in ensuring the successful implementation of the law through accurate and consistent reporting on gender issues.
“The media is not merely a channel for information, but a pillar of democratic governance that shapes public opinion and promotes accountability,” she stated.
she urged media practitioners to use their platforms to educate the public, challenge harmful social norms, and amplify the voices of women and girls across Ghana.
She expressed confidence that sustained media engagement and accurate reporting on gender issues would help translate the provisions of the Affirmative Action Act into meaningful transformation across institutions and communities in the country.
“the implementation of the law should not remain only at the policy level but must translate into real improvements in the lives of Ghanaians”, she added.
The engagement forms part of efforts by the Ministry to deepen public understanding of the Act and strengthen collaboration with the media towards its effective implementation.
Priscilla Osei-Wusu Nimako, ISD