The Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organizational Development (CIKOD) has organized a one-day comprehensive training program for queen mothers and traditional women leaders on Ghana's Affirmative Action Law.
The workshop held on Thursday November 7, 2024 in Wa aims to enhance the understanding and advocacy skills of these influential women, promoting gender equality and inclusive decision-making. The training brought together over 50 participants across the Upper West Region.
They were equipped with in-depth knowledge of the law and its implications. The training was led by expert facilitators including Dr Constance Akurugu, Lecturer at the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS), Eunice Kaminta (ESQ) and Nuhela Seidu (ESQ).
Mr Daniel Banoukuu, the Deputy Executive Director for CIKOD, noted that empowering traditional women leaders and Queen mothers is crucial for social change. He stated that the workshop's purpose is to find out what opportunities the law presents in empowering women in decision-making so that their voices are heard and taken in decision-making.
Mr Ben Obiri Asamoah, Registrar of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs, commended CIKOD for organizing the workshop for Queen mothers and women leaders. He advised the participants to share the knowledge they would acquire from the training with their various communities.
Lawyer Nuhela Seidu emphasized that affirmative action is not limited to women but applies to all groups of people. She recalled that the movement for affirmative action began in the 1960s with the introduction of the Representative of the People Act, which allowed ten women to join the National Assembly. According to her, it became evident that women were not taking on leadership roles.
Additionally, policies such as the Girls Education Unit, established in 1997, were aimed at encouraging girls to attend school while also recognizing their traditional roles.
Dr Constance Akurugu mentioned that “across the world, affirmative action has been proven to be a very successful approach in terms of enhancing the participation but also the representation of voices that are minority.”
She emphasized the importance of Queen mothers and women leaders positioning themselves to fully understand the provisions of the law. This knowledge will enable them to communicate it effectively to their constituents and use it as a foundation to advocate for their rights and demands.
Dr. Constance Akurugu emphasized that the law will achieve its goals if women, especially queen mothers and female leaders, become its advocates and adopt it as their own.
Lawyer Eunice Kaminta, stated that in order for women to take advantage of the law, it must start with socializing the girl child that being born a female does not come with any form limitation. The girl child according to her should know that apart from the household chores, they can do anything the boy child does.
She noted that women should equip themselves and ready to volunteer to serve and put up themselves for positions of power. She emphasized that it is only when women put up themselves for service that they can take advantage of the law.
Lawyer Eunice Kaminta emphasized that for women to benefit from the law, it is essential to begin with educating and socializing the girl child. She stressed that being born female does not impose any limitations. According to her, girls should understand that, aside from household chores, they are capable of achieving anything that boys can.
She also highlighted the importance of women equipping themselves and being willing to volunteer for leadership positions. Kaminta explained that women can only fully take advantage of the law when they actively seek opportunities for service and leadership.
On Tuesday, July 30, 2024, Parliament passed the historic Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Bill. The passage of the bill represents a landmark legislative effort in Ghana’s ongoing journey towards achieving gender parity across all sectors of society.
The bill seeks to address the historical and systemic gender imbalances that have long permeated the nation’s political, social, economic and cultural landscapes.
The Affirmative Action Bill was first introduced in Parliament in 2016 to prioritise an increase in women’s participation in governance and decision-making at all levels.
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