We must mount pressure on Akufo-Addo to assent to the Affirmative Action Bill – SEND-Ghana

The Chief Executive of SEND-Ghana, Siapha Kamara, has expressed joy following the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill.

He said there have been several campaigns and advocacy efforts before this bill was passed, and stakeholders believed that some traditional practices hindered the participation, education, health, and voice of women.

“Before this bill was passed, we had to fight very hard. This bill will bridge that gap, and that is why we applaud it.”

Women, he argued, constitute more than 50% of our population, yet when one assesses government, parliament, and other places, women are fewer. He said that was why they helped in advocating to have the bill passed.

He said: “What this bill seeks to achieve is to make Ghana a better country. When you have girls being treated as boys are treated, when they are given the same opportunities in education, health, and public life, Ghana will be a better place.

"This bill acknowledges that our tradition is good as it is, and as we should be proud of it, there are some aspects that are making it difficult for us to benefit solely from the potential of women.

"So, this bill is saying to us as citizens, as chiefs, as mothers, as fathers, as brothers, as sisters, that we should implement policies and programs at all levels that will allow us as a society to benefit very much from all the potential that women and girls have. So, it is a good bill to develop Ghana.”

Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he expressed gratitude to journalists and media houses for the interest they’ve had in the bill and further encouraged them to mount pressure on President Akufo-Addo so he will assent to it and make it law.

To him, “The journey is not yet over because the bill has not become the law of the land. Until the president appends his signature to it, it will not become the law of the land, and that is why we should maintain the advocacy and the pressure on the president so that before he leaves office, he can sign the bill.

"We have waited for too long; we have struggled hard to bring the bill this far, and we are appealing to the President to exercise the power given to him to sign that bill into law. It will open the door to development for half the population of Ghana.

"We want to thank journalists like yourself and your media houses. Let us keep the issue of this bill in the eye of the public so that the president can know that the people of Ghana are concerned that this bill should be signed into law. It is very important. We don’t want it to go to the next administration.”