The Chairperson of Parliament’s Committee on Gender, Children, and Social Welfare, Hon. Helen Adjoa Ntoso, has called on the government to ensure that all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) receive specific budgetary allocations for the implementation of gender-responsive initiatives in the 2026 budget.
Speaking to some members of the Parliamentary Corps in Parliament on Monday, July 28, 2025, Hon. Ntoso emphasized that the passage of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equality) Act in 2024 must be matched with concrete funding measures to ensure its effective implementation.
“We have passed the Affirmative Action Bill into law, and now we need to close the gender equity gaps it was designed to address,” she said.
She expressed concern over the current state of female representation in Ghana, especially in leadership and political decision-making spaces.
“Out of the 276 Members of Parliament, only 41 are women – that’s just 14%. We are far below the international benchmarks and targets set under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5 on gender equality,” she noted.
Citing data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Hon. Ntoso pointed out that Ghana ranks poorly on global gender parity indices. “We are currently around 114 out of 147 countries when it comes to women’s representation. That’s a clear sign we are lagging behind.”
The MP for Krachi West underscored the need for gender-responsive budgeting that extends beyond the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection.
“When budgets are prepared, gender issues should be factored into allocations across all sectors – from education and health to trade, defence, and sports,” she said. “Currently, over 80% of the Gender Ministry’s budget is spent on programmes like the School Feeding Programme and LEAP, leaving little room for other critical interventions.”
Hon. Ntoso also advocated for the introduction of a quota system to boost female representation, referencing Rwanda’s success in achieving over 60% women’s representation in parliament.
“A quota system that allocates seats to youth, civil society, and other stakeholder groups can significantly raise the numbers,” she proposed.
She stressed the urgency of meeting international and regional commitments to gender parity.
“According to global timelines, Ghana is expected to achieve 30% female representation by 2027, 35% by 2028, and 50% by 2034. But at our current pace, we are far from reaching those milestones,” she warned.
The Chairperson concluded by urging government to make the 2026 National Budget a truly gender-responsive one, with specific funding provisions across all MDAs to advance equity, representation, and the welfare of women and vulnerable groups.
The Committee on Gender, Children, and Social Welfare is mandated to oversee issues affecting gender equality, child welfare, and social protection.
Its responsibilities include examining relevant legislation, evaluating affirmative action proposals, and scrutinizing the administration of MDAs under its purview.
Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com