Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, says that the Affirmative Action Gender Equity Bill 2024 is intended for the benefit of everyone, not just women, and plays a crucial role in fostering development.

The bill, which has been under discussion in Parliament for several years, was unanimously passed today.

Its goal is to ensure that women hold significant positions in governance, public life, and decision-making, thereby enhancing their overall quality of life across the country.

• Read also: Affirmative Action bill passed into law

Today, Gender Minister Darkoa Newmann presented the motion for the bill’s passage and conducted the vote in the House.

Speaking on the floor of parliament, Mr Bagbin stated that “It is not a bill for just women, it is a bill for all of us. It is a bill for development. This is the first stage. We have passed the law. We have to appropriate adequate resources for the ministry to lead the implementation of the provision that we have enacted, so we just started. Don’t just celebrate and do not really put in place the vision that we have created for the country.”.

He underscored the need for members to fully commit to constitutional reforms.

Mr Bagbin called for increased efforts to build a fair and just society, which would enable more women to contribute to the government’s mission of advancing Ghana.