Ghana - September 2024

The President signed the long-awaited Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Bill into law on 19 September 2024, ending a process that began in 1998. The law’s primary objective is to improve women’s representation including by increasing the proportion of seats held by women in parliaments, local governments and managerial positions to a minimum of 30 per cent by 2030, with a longer-term goal of 50/50 gender balance. Today, women hold less than 15 per cent of parliamentary seats in Ghana. The law introduces mechanisms such as compliance certification and gender-responsive budgeting, along with support structures like political party mandates and committee oversight to enforce its goals. The law does not impose heavy penalties for noncompliance. This development has been hailed by the United Nations as a significant step in addressing gender disparities in Ghana, while gender scholars caution that full implementation and monitoring will be critical to ensuring its impact.

Sources: Parliament of Ghana, The Africa Report, Reuters, Inter-Parliamentary Union, United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, The Conversation, BBC

On 14 September, mass protests erupted across all 16 regions of Ghana, marking one of the largest demonstrations in recent years. Hundreds of thousands of people reportedly participated, demanding greater electoral transparency and accountability. The protests were sparked by accusations from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), which claimed the Electoral Commission had manipulated the voter register ahead of the 7 December 2024 general elections. The NDC raised concerns about missing names, irregularities, and the inclusion of over 50,000 deceased individuals on the voter roll. In response, the opposition called for an independent forensic audit of the voter roll and a bipartisan probe into the Electoral Commission’s conduct. Despite the Electoral Commission’s denial of wrongdoing, the scale and geographic spread of the protests highlight growing public demand for electoral reforms.

Sources: The Africa Report (1), The Africa Report (2), Jeune Afrique, BBC, AP News

On 30 September, a coalition of civil society organizations, labor unions, media outlets, and religious leaders staged a three-day protest in Ghana, demanding stricter enforcement of laws against illegal mining, known locally as “galamsey”. While galamsey has long been an issue that has severely degraded the environment over the years, these protests are significant for the unprecedented involvement of such a wide range of actors. Protesters called for a state of emergency in affected areas, the removal of illegal miners, and the revocation of mining licenses. The environmental toll, including poisoned rivers and deforestation, threatens livelihoods and water sources for millions. The government clashed with protesters, leading to dozens of arrests and raising concerns about the suppression of dissent. Galamsey has been blamed for polluting 60 per cent of Ghana’s water bodies, with analysts warning the country may need to import water by 2030 if the crisis continues.

Sources: ISS Africa, The Africa Report, Africa News, Jurist News, BBC