ABANTU launches Gender Equality and Socially inclusive Project

ABANTU for Development, a leading Women’s rights advocacy Organization in Ghana on Wednesday, November 6, 2024,launched  a  project dubbed “Strengthening Capacities on Gender Equality and Socially Inclusive Ghana’s Elections 2024 and Beyond”.  

Sponsored by STAR-Ghana Foundation with funding from the UK’s Foreign,Commonwealth and Development Office, the project seeks to among other things increase the participation and representation of women, young women and women with disabilities, within all decision-making spaces of Ghana’s governance system.

At the launch in Accra, various speakers acknowledged that Ghana has made great strides in terms of political stability, since the country’s return to multi-party democracy in 1992. However, the participation of vulnerable groups, especially, women, young women and persons with disabilities (PWDs) has remained extremely low. The low representation, according to the speakers, is evidenced in the fact that women constitute only 14.5% out of the two hundred and seventy-five (275) Members of Parliament.

The project is therefore meant to ensure increased women’s political participation and representation in all spheres of Ghana’s governance systems. 

The speakers were of the opinion that increasing the number of women in decision-making positions, including Parliament, has a positive impact on government transparency, and the results in policy outcomes are more inclusive. Research supports the view that the presence of women in the political process makes a real difference. Women are more likely to be bipartisan and more likely to bring on new ideas and issues that are needed to inform and enrich policy.

 The launch brought together young women, women with disability, political party representatives Civil Society Organisations, Government agencies, the media among other personalities.

 In a speech read on her  behalf,  Madam Faustina Acheampong, Director of  the Department of Gender, Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection noted that to increase women’s participation in the upcoming electoral process, it’s essential to adopt effective strategies.

Madam Acheampong said the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, through its Department of Gender, holds a crucial role in integrating women fully into societal and political frameworks.

She said ensuring women’s active participation across social, economic, and political domains can lead to transformative impacts on governance and policy.

 According to her, one significant step by the Ministry has been the sponsorship of the Affirmative Action Bill, which was passed as the Affirmative Action Gender Equity Act 2024. She said the  Act, approved by Parliament in July and signed into law in September, serves as a foundation for increasing women’s presence in decision-making roles.

The Act aims to address gender imbalances, particularly in Parliament, promoting transparency and inclusive policy outcomes.

Research highlights the unique contributions of women in politics, as they often adopt a bipartisan approach and introduce fresh perspectives that enhance policy effectiveness. As stakeholders, it is our collective responsibility to push forward initiatives that increase women’s participation in governance. Doing so upholds women’s rights, reinforces their safety, and validates their concerns, fostering a more representative and equitable government.

Raymond Danso, the Rights to Services Portfolio Manager at STAR–Ghana Foundation stated that the launch of  the project  marked a critical step toward building women’s capacities in politics.

 Mr Danso indicated that the initiative addresses the need for substantial capacity-building support for women who are keen to participate in politics but face significant barriers.

 He said though many women possess the skills needed to engage in the political arena, the challenges they encounter, including financial burdens, patriarchal norms, and hostile political environments, often discourage their participation.

With the elections about one month away, Mr Danso underscored the need for peace before, during and after the elections.

He said, “Women, who are integral to fostering peace and stability, must be supported to take on roles that strengthen societal harmony. It’s a collective responsibility to ensure that as women enter the political sphere, they find a supportive and peaceful environment that values their contributions to inclusive governance.”

 He added “It is a process. We’ve been there before, and I think that collectively we should all be looking at post-elections, how we can work together to build a formidable society, an inclusive society where we can all see growth. We’ll be happy to stay in our country and participate in the decision-making process. So that will be my call to all of us, and that all of us have a role.”

Madam  Dorcas Coker Appiah, Executive Director, Gender Studies and  Human Rights Documentation Centre  in an  address stated  that  despite the efforts of women’s rights activists, feminist organizations like Abantu for Development, and supportive men, women’s representation in Parliament remains low—just 14.5%, with prospects to decline further as more women lose their seats to male contenders

She  said while Ghana’s adoption of the Affirmative Action Gender Equity Act aligns with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), legislation alone is insufficient to transform these systemic disparities, emphasizing that practical, actionable steps are essential to ensure the law makes a real impact on women’s representation.

 She pointed out that Ghana, along with its institutions and partners, must adopt a multifaceted, collaborative approach to make the Affirmative Action law meaningful. This approach,  she  said, should include sustained partnerships among the Ministry of Gender, local feminist organizations, and international agencies to implement comprehensive, grassroots programmes that support and empower women candidates.

She noted that “ABANTU and similar organizations have indeed been instrumental in supporting women at district and national levels; however, achieving substantial change requires strategies that look beyond short-term electoral cycles.”

She added that,“one potential way forward is investing in long-term capacity-building programmes targeted at young women interested in political careers. Identifying these individuals early on and providing training in leadership, public speaking, and policy-making can help them become more competitive candidates”

By: Mohammed Suleman/Publicagenda.news