Gender Equity Dialogues launched in Accra as Affirmative Action Act turns two
The Gender Equity Dialogues (GED) was officially launched on Friday, 11 September 2026, at Child Rights International in Accra, bringing together more than 30 participants. The maiden edition of the planned biannual series was convened by gender advocate and media consultant Sangmorkie Tetteh. The event coincided exactly with the second anniversary of former President Nana […]
Gender Equity Dialogues officially kicked off in Accra on September 11, 2026, uniting over 30 attendees at Child Rights International. Organized by gender advocate Sangmorkie Tetteh, this inaugural event marked the second anniversary of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act 2024 (Act 1121). Tetteh emphasized the need for laws to benefit the public by being accessible, comprehensible, and usable.
Her experience as the second female SRC President at university revealed her dedication to gender equity, recalling the disparity in treatment.
Distinguished guests included Mrs Joana Adzoa Opare, a pioneer of the Act and former Chairperson of the National Technical Committee, and Mercy Catherine Adjabeng, a gender-and-development expert and AWMA convenor. Adjabeng praised the Dialogues for addressing the generational gap in gender equality discussions. Speakers stressed that Act 1121, which aims for women to hold 30%, 35%, and 50% of decision-making roles by 2026, 2028, and 2034 respectively, is the result of over two decades of advocacy. However, implementation has been slow and underfunded.
Section 28 of Act 1121 criminalizes intimidation, victimization, and gender-based hate speech, including online harassment. Strategy lecturer Dr Tetteh highlighted the law's potential for structural change through deliberate action, rather than relying on chance. She pointed out that women's presence in student politics often ends at secretarial or deputy roles, urging participants to actively seek leadership positions.
Beyond academia, she noted the underrepresentation of women in security and governance, emphasizing the importance of taking initiative in these areas.
Hosted by the Affirmative Action Law Coalition, AWMA, with support from Child Rights International, Dromi Investments Limited, Ace Insurance, and endorsement from the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and Women of Valor, the Dialogues are set to become a recurring series. The next gatherings are anticipated in the coming year.
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