Former President and 2024 National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, has called on the current Parliament to pass the Affirmative Action Bill.
If Parliament fails to pass the bill, Mr. Mahama promises to make it one of the first bills to be passed by a new NDC government. The Affirmative Action (Gender Equality) Bill was presented to Parliament in October 2023 after being in the works since 2011.
Once passed, the bill will address the marginalization of women in key decision-making spaces in Ghana. It will ensure that women are represented by at least 30% in public life.
The former President Mahama noted the role women play in national development and highlighted his choice of Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang as his vice presidential candidate for the 2024 elections.
The NDC Presidential Candidate on Thursday outdoored Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang as his running mate for the second time.
“Yesterday the NDC council of elders and the national executive committee endorsed my choice of running mate, Prof Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang,” he said.
He made these remarks during his "Building the Ghana We Want" tour of the Upper West Region when he paid a courtesy call on the Wa Naa, Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV.
“Women and men were created by God as partners and so when we empower our women, we’re empowering ourselves.”
“NDC is committed to making sure that we allow women the opportunity to also realize their full potential in life. And so we’re committed to what we called the Affirmative Action Bill,” he added.
“It is one of the bills that has remain in parliament for the longest time and I’m urging this parliament to pass the Affirmative Action Bill or else if they don’t it will be one of the legislative items we do under a new NDC government,” he added.
Former President Mahama urged the Electoral Commission to remain neutral during the December 7, 2024 general elections. He also lauded the EC and political parties for approving the election calendar.
“I want to add my voice to the Wa Naa to caution the EC that is the referee in the election that is going to take place on 7th December, 2024…that the EC should uphold its mandate of being independent and neutral and be impartial between all parties so that the will of the Ghanaian people will be expressed.”