The Speaker of Parliament, the Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has directed the Minister for Justice and Attorney, Mr. Godfred Yeboah Dame, to submit the Affirmative Action Bill in whatever form it is in to Parliament. According to the Speaker, the lack of legislation on Affirmative Action was taking the country back to pre-historic days.
He also said the country’s legislative arm was not admired due to its marginalisation of women. “I have written to the Minister for Justice and Attorney General to submit the bill to me in whatever state that bill is. This lack of legislation on affirmative action is taking the country back to pre-historic days.
“Our Parliament is not admired again, because of the marginalisation and the suffocation of women. We have to sit up,” he said.
He made the comments when he was welcoming Members of Parliament to the House after a three months recess. Mr. Bagbin was briefing the House on the business it would be transacting in the Third Meeting of the Second Session of the Eight Parliament.
He was specifically talking about the possible bills to be discussed, including the Affirmative Action Bill. Speaker Bagbin noted that that the mandate of passing laws in the country was that of Parliament and not the Executive.
He also said that whatever consultation the Executive was doing with regards to the bill, Parliament could also do it, and called for the document. “I am using this opportunity to let the Minister know that I urgently need a copy of the bill in whatever state it is in, because I am aware that Cabinet has approved [it] and we can work on it and improve on it,” Speaker Bagbin said.
The Affirmative Action is a temporary mechanism aimed at removing discrimination, improving the rights of marginalised groups, who have been historically disadvantaged. Ghana’s Affirmative Action Law seeks to remove the historical low representation of women in all decision-making spaces, while promoting democracy and development through effective participation of all citizens.
In addition, it seeks to promote women’s representation to a minimum of 40% in all policy making spaces. Aside the Affirmative Action Bill, Speaker Bagbin also noted that the Bill on the Promotion of Proper Sexual Human Rights and Family Values would also be on the table for discussion.
Away from the issue of bills, Speaker Bagbin charged members to bring the knowledge they acquired during the many international travels they made during recess to attend conferences for the benefit of the House to enable it transact business that would inure to the benefit of their constituents.
