Ghana’s Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has called on African countries to rigorously enforce affirmative action policies as a key strategy to increase women’s participation in public office across the continent.
According to the minister, although many African nations have adopted policies and legal frameworks aimed at promoting gender equality, the lack of strict enforcement continues to limit the impact of such initiatives. She stressed that stronger commitment and implementation are needed to ensure that women are adequately represented in leadership and decision-making roles in government and public institutions.
Dr Lartey made the remarks while delivering closing comments at a side event organised by the Pan-African Parliament, the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), and the African Women Leaders Network during the 70th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York. She noted that affirmative action policies, when properly enforced, can help address long-standing gender disparities in governance across Africa.
She emphasised that empowering more women to occupy positions in public office is not only a matter of fairness but also essential for inclusive development. According to her, diverse leadership leads to better policy outcomes, improved governance, and stronger democratic institutions on the continent.
The minister further encouraged governments, policymakers, and stakeholders across Africa to move beyond commitments and translate gender equality policies into tangible results. She said countries must invest in creating enabling environments that support women’s leadership, including access to education, mentorship, and political opportunities.
Ghana itself has taken steps in this direction, including the passage of an Affirmative Action law aimed at improving women’s representation in leadership and public life. The legislation is expected to help accelerate progress toward greater gender balance in governance and decision-making structures.
Dr Lartey reiterated that Africa’s development agenda will benefit significantly when women are given equal opportunities to contribute to leadership and public service, urging all nations to prioritise enforcement of affirmative action measures to achieve meaningful change.
