ActionAid Ghana (AAG) has called for urgent, accelerated action to address the longstanding issue of the lack of recognition women receive in the political sphere.
According to ActionAid, while women are often celebrated as pillars of support, they remain significantly underrepresented in decision-making roles.
In a statement issued to commemorate the International Women’s Day 2025 which is on the theme “Accelerate Action,” ActionAid noted that “achieving gender equality requires genuine, legally enforceable change rather than mere platitudes.”
AAG criticized the selective recognition of women’s contributions, particularly during the recent ministerial vetting process, where nominees frequently referenced their wives.
The organization noted that while these acknowledgments might appear appreciative, they expose a deeper issue of gender inequality.
“Why do men highlight their wives’ importance when it serves their interests? Why does women’s contribution become relevant only when it benefits their husbands’ political aspirations?”
AAG stressed that women’s contributions should be recognized beyond their roles as supportive spouses.
“Women—wives, daughters, and mothers—are often eulogized to indicate progress and address gender issues. However, the stark reality is that women remain significantly excluded from meaningful decision-making roles within government. Having observed keenly, we find the disproportional increase of nominations and appointments of women disturbing. Although we recommend the selection of a female Vice President as the highest effort in women’s political leadership in Ghana, AAG strongly believes that this should be the standard, not the exception, reflecting a commitment to female political equality. High-ranking women must be matched by greater representation at all levels of government to ensure their perspectives influence policy beyond symbolic roles.”
The organization highlighted the gap between policy and practice, particularly in relation to Ghana’s Affirmative Action Law, which mandates 30% female representation in political and public decision-making by 2026 and 50% by 2030.
Despite these targets, ActionAid Ghana expressed disappointment with President John Mahama’s recent appointments, noting that out of 42 ministerial appointees, only 7 (16.7%) were women, while among 13 deputy ministers, only 2 (15.4%) were women.
“Additionally, the Ghana Statistical Service (2023) reports that only 26 out of 86 leadership positions are held by women. While praising women at vetting sessions is welcomed, it is crucial to ensure they have equal access to power and leadership. Ghana must move beyond political rhetoric to implement genuine systemic change.”
The statement also drew attention to the undervaluation of women’s unpaid care work, which includes childcare, elder care, and domestic labor.
“Women’s unpaid labour effectively subsidizes the formal economy, enabling men to engage in political and economic activities without interruption. However, this labour is neither counted in GDP calculations nor compensated in any meaningful way.”
AAG called on the government to implement policies that:
- Recognize, reduce, and redistribute unpaid care work by investing in public childcare, improved parental leave, and infrastructure such as piped water and clean energy.
- Ensure a feminist well-being economy that values care work in national budgets and labor policies.
- Enforce the Affirmative Action Law to prioritize women’s economic empowerment and leadership roles.
AAG urged Parliamentarians and government officials to back policies that promote women’s economic justice and leadership.
“If we recognize the value of women’s contributions as a country, then it must be reflected in leadership roles, government positions, and national decision-making—not just in carefully chosen words,” the statement stressed.
