NCCE Calls For Passage of Affirmative Action Bill

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has called on government to expedite the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill into law.

According to the Commission, an enabling environment should be created for women to contribute meaningfully to national development.

This was indicated in a statement signed and issued yesterday, by Mrs. Joyce Afutu, Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs at NCCE, as part of celebrations of the International Women’s Day.

The International Women’s Day is known as the United Nations (UN) Day for Women’s Right and International Peace, observed annually on March 8, to celebrate the socio-economic and political achievements of women globally.

Ghana, as a member of the global community, celebrated the day under the theme, “Women Too – Press to Progress as Game Changers”.

NCCE in celebrating Ghanaian women, urged women to relentlessly “Press for Progress”, fight for equal rights and fight to end all forms of abuse against women in Ghana and across the world.

They also reminded government to fulfill the dictates of Article 36 (6) of the 1992 Constitution.

Article 36 (6) of the constitution indicates ‘The state shall afford equality of economic opportunity to all citizens; and, in particular, the State shall take all necessary steps so as to ensure the full integration of women into the mainstream of the economic development of Ghana’.

According to the Commission, “In order for us to successfully achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), we will need the active involvement of women, especially women in rural communities to ensure an acceptable standard of living; violence free society; elimination of harmful cultural practices among women; food security and nutrition; decent work; accessible education; and guarantee right to health including sexual and reproductive health.”

They further called on Women rights activists, Civil Society Organizations, and well-meaning Ghanaians to renew the clarion call for the enactment of the bill.

Affirmative Action Law

The process began in 2006 with the launch of “Women In Local Governance Project” with the objective to raise funds to support women at local level decision-making positions of the government (District Assemblies) by the then Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MOWAC) now Ministry of Gender and Social Protection.

A comprehensive programme was later launched to kick start the process of a nation-wide public for consultation on the Affirmative Action Bill.

The bill, after it was approved by cabinet, has since been forwarded to parliament awaiting for its passage into law.

By: Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum/ [email protected]