Ghana on Track to Achieve 30% Women in Leadership by 2026, Says Gender Minister

• Ghana is projected to meet 30% leadership by women by 2026 under the Affirmative Action Act
• The information was shared by Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection
• Presently, women's leadership representation has been at 25% for quite some time

Ghana will meet the 30 percent target of women in leadership roles by 2026 in accordance with the Affirmative Action Act, says Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey.

Addressing the opening address of the HeForShe Summit of African Women in Leadership Organisation (AWLO) in Accra, Dr. Lartey had indicated the representation by women has hovered at approximately 25 percent in recent years but was hopeful the nation will hit the target next year.

The event, whose theme was "Redefining Masculinity: Men as Catalysts for Women's Development," assembled AWLO leaders, women's organizations, and champions across Africa to discuss collective leadership and gender equality.

Dr. Agnes emphasized the Ministry's resolution to operationalize the Affirmative Action Act, 2024, collaboratively with Parliament and civil society organizations.

She further stated that the Ministry is persistently transforming social protection systems—like the LEAP programme and school feeding programmes—while working with development agencies and the private sector to increase opportunities for women in leadership, innovation, and business.

The Minister also commended former President John Dramani Mahama for his contribution towards empowering women, pointing to his groundbreaking nomination of Professor Nana-Jane Opoku-Agyemang as running mate twice and for his advocacy of affirmative action for government boards and public service recruitment.

During the ceremony, Dr. Elisha Attai, AWLO Global President, called on men in leadership to proactively mentor and engage the participation of women in decision-making forums.

"We need not only supporters in the backrooms but also champions in the frontrooms, mentors in the boardrooms, and champions of equality—champions, not adversaries, of equity," he emphasized.

Reverend Dr. Nanayaa Tina Owusu-Prempeh, President of Women in Leadership International, meanwhile underscored that women's empowerment must be supplementary to men's roles and not in competition with them.

"Masculinity is not against empowering women. Times have changed, and I want men to own that fact. And women, don't think of yourselves as battling men," she stated.

She went on to urge the government to expedite policies favorable to women, reiterating that doing so would consolidate their role in leadership and decision-making.