The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) Ghana Chapter has called for the effective implementation of Ghana’s Affirmative Action law to ensure that women and girls benefit fully from policies aimed at promoting gender equality.
In a statement marking the 2026 celebration of International Women’s Day, the Chairperson of AWLN Ghana, Charity Binka, said while the country had made notable progress with the passage of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, more work remained to translate the law into real opportunities for women and girls.
The statement, issued under the theme “Rights, Justice, Action for All Women and Girls,” emphasised that laws alone would not guarantee meaningful change unless they were supported by effective implementation, public awareness and institutional accountability.
Dr Binka noted that despite advances in promoting gender equality, many women and girls continued to face barriers that limited their access to opportunities and denied them their fundamental rights.
She therefore called for stronger measures to protect women from discrimination and gender-based violence while improving access to justice for victims.
The AWLN Ghana Chairperson also stressed the need for increased investment in girls’ education, digital inclusion and economic empowerment programmes to enable women to contribute more effectively to national development.
According to her, achieving lasting gender equality would require a collective effort involving government, civil society organisations, traditional authorities, the private sector and the media.
Dr Binka said stakeholders must work together to challenge harmful cultural practices and social norms that undermine the rights and advancement of women and girls.
She added that the International Women’s Day observance served as an important reminder that sustained commitment to rights, justice and practical action was necessary to build a society where every woman and girl could thrive.
