The Member of Parliament for the Savelugu constituency in the Northern Region, Hajia Fatahiya Abdul Aziz, has called for deliberate and progressive measures to end gender-based violence in Ghana.
The Deputy Ranking Member on the Gender Select Committee of Parliament, in her message to mark this year’s International Women’s Day celebration, said the objective of the Affirmative Action Act 2024 (Act 1121) is to ensure the attainment of gender equity in all spheres of life.
She maintained that this commitment to equality is the foundation upon which the nation must stand to address all modern forms of violence in the country.
In line with the 16 Days of Activism, the Savelugu lawmaker indicated the principles of Act 1121 must extend into the digital space, adding that this must be enforced to prevent all forms of digital violence, cyberbullying, and non-consensual sharing of intimate images and online harassment in Ghana.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) legislator, in her remarks, further urged both public and private sector stakeholders to promote policies and programs that seek to address all forms of gender imbalances and inequalities in society.
“The Act demands a just society, and the digital space, which is now an integral part of our social, economic, and political life, must be safe for everyone. It must be inclusive and equitable for women and girls as well,” she emphasised.
Meanwhile, the Savelugu MP has also called on both public and private institutions to integrate the objectives of Act 1121 into their policy framework to ensure the full participation of women in the digital economy.
Affirmative Action aims to promote gender equality and women’s representation in governance and the public and private sectors.
The law mandates at least 30% female representation in decision-making roles by 2026 and 50% by 2030 to 2034.
