President John Dramani Mahama and Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has expressed his disappointment with the representation of females in the Cabinet of President John Dramani Mahama and the leadership of the House.
Speaking at a ceremony to commemorate International Women’s Day at Parliament, on Monday, March 10, 2025, the Speaker bemoaned the number of women in Cabinet and the committees of the House.
He was particularly unhappy that the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGSP) was not in the Cabinet of Mahama.
The Speaker made these remarks while touching on the strides that the country has made with the passage of the Affirmative Action Law.
“We have tarried long in passing this law. Let us not apply the same wishy-washy attitude towards its implementation. I am not impressed with what I have seen so far in the positioning of women in the leadership of Parliament, committees of Parliament and appointments to ministerial positions.
“I am not impressed at all. Even the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is not a Cabinet ministry,” he said.
The Speaker went on to say that they would fight to ensure that the provisions of the Affirmative Action Law are adhered to, saying that “we will not accept anything below the statutory benchmark percentage.”
He said that the shares of appointments to positions stated in the law cannot be below the stated 30 percent.
“Let me use this opportunity to reiterate my earlier comment made on the floor of the House that I am determined to hold the government to account in making sure that the provisions of this act are totally implemented.
“And so I’m using this platform to call the attention of the government and all stakeholders to pay close attention to the provisions of the Act, particularly Section 14, which provides that, and I quote, ‘the President shall ensure the progressive achievement of the gender equity target set out in the First Schedule in making appointments to the following: a. ministerial positions; b. the Council of State; c. the independent constitutional bodies; d. governing bodies of State institutions; e. the public service; f. district assemblies; and g. any other office to which the President makes an appointment.’ (Section) 3 says ‘appointments under subsection 2 shall be in accordance with guidelines set out in the Third Schedule of the Bill.’”
BAI/AE
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