Zonta Ghana, a non-governmental organisation, has called for urgent action on the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill will enhance participation of women in national development.
“The passage of the bill will also help create a conducive environment for women, eliminate bias, and enhance the participation of women in national development and we call for a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination,” it said.
It stressed on the need for a world that was diverse, equitable and inclusive and a world where difference was valued and celebrated.
In a statement signed and issued in Accra, the organisation said the Affirmative Action Bill sought to encourage efforts towards addressing socio-cultural, political, economic and educational gender imbalances in private and public sectors in accordance with Clause 4 of Article 17 of the 1992 Constitution.
It said its objective was to promote progressive increase and active participation of women in public and active life from minimum of 30 per cent by 2030 in line with the requirements of the Sustainable Development Goals adding that “is a global day that celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality”.
The statement raised concern over the low representation of women in Parliament and proposed drastic measures to encourage women to take up leadership positions because in parliament, only 40 women out of 275 Members of Parliament (MPs) and women in institutions had difficulty moving up the ladder of leadership due to stereotypes about women in outright bias.
“We urged the citizenry to push for the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill to expedite gender equality in governance and in private life so as to accelerate the progress, growth and development of the country,” it said. -GNA
