Women will hold at least 30% of political appointments under my administration – Mahama

Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Former John Dramani Mahama said that his administration would ensure that at least 30 percent of appointments go to women.

This will be done through the implementation of the Affirmative Action Law.

Speaking during the NDC’s launch of the Women’s Manifesto in Kumasi on Monday, September 30, he said “By operationalizing the Affirmative Action Act of 2024, we will ensure that women hold at least 30% of political appointments.”

“Why should poverty have a female face in Ghana? The majority of unemployed people in Ghana are women. We want a Ghana where economic empowerment is a right. We’ll ensure women hold at least 30 percent appointments in government by 2025,” he added.

He added “Maternity leave will be extended to four months while fathers will enjoy one-week paternity leave. Men must provide proof.”

He further stated that despite women’s significant contribution to our nation’s development, gender inequality remains pervasive, particularly in the informal sector, where 92% of workers are women often without safety nets. This is an important sector that contributes as much as between 30-40% of Ghana’s GDP.

This situation, he said, has exacerbated poverty among women, as highlighted by the 2020 Census: which indicates that of Ghana’s 7.3 million poor people, the majority – 3.76 million – are women.

“In fact, nearly 54% of unemployed people in Ghana are women. Why should poverty have a female face in Ghana, with 1.44 million women classified as extremely poor, and living on less than $1.90 a day? Why should poverty have any face at all? These numbers should not just shock us; they should spur us to act.

“These statistics tell a painful story. Behind each number is a woman – perhaps a mother, a sister, or a daughter – who works tirelessly every day but still goes to bed hungry. They are the backbone of our communities, yet they bear the heaviest burdens of inequality.”