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Ghana’s Affirmative Action Bill passage highly commendable — Josephine Oppong-Yeboah
Josephine Oppong Yeboah
Media personality and gender advocate, Ms Josephine Oppong-Yeboah, has described the passage of the Affirmative Action Bill in Ghana as a “highly commendable act.”
For her, the passage of the Bill in the country was a significant step towards creating a more equitable and just society.
She said the Bill will help to promote gender equality, enhance economic growth, strengthen democracy, and address historical inequalities.
“By empowering women and ensuring their full participation in all aspects of society, Ghana can build a more inclusive and prosperous future for all its citizens,” she said, adding that “gender equality is closely linked to economic growth”
Ms Oppong-Yeboah in a media interview after the passage of the Bill on July 30 2024, said the adoption of the Affirmative Action Bill was a major achievement and demonstrates Ghana’s commitment to achieving gender equality in both public and private sector in the exercise of power and decision-making.
The purpose of the Bill is to effectively address social, cultural, economic and political gender imbalances in the country, stemming from historical discrimination against women and persistent patriarchal socio-cultural systems and norms.
It also seeks to ensure gender equity in both the public and private sector.
For Ms Oppong-Yeboah, empowering women and ensuring their participation in all aspects of society leads to better health, education, and social outcomes for families and communities.
She said the Bill would help to increase the visibility of women in leadership and influential positions, adding that “the bill can inspire and encourage future generations of women to pursue their ambitions; this creates a positive cycle of mentorship and empowerment.”
She was of the view that the decision by Ghana to pass the Bill also aligns with the country’s commitments and demonstrates its dedication to upholding international standards.
“Ghana is a signatory to various international agreements and conventions that promote gender equality, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” the gender advocate explained.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
The Ghana Tourism Development Company, GTDC, under the leadership of Prof.Kobby Mensah has launched GTDC Campus Tourism Office at the University of Ghana.
The initiative aims to promote educational and domestic tourism by providing structured campus tour experiences showcasing key heritage sites, including the Archaeology Museum and the School of Performing Arts.
It will also offer students their first travel experience across the continent and inculcate in them love to visit Ghana’s heritage sites.
Addressing the gathering at the launch yesterday, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, described tourism as a vehicle for education and heritage preservation, stressing that the sector must inspire citizens to value and protect national culture for future generations.
The minister highlighted tourism’s connection to disciplines such as history, the arts, economics and environmental science.
The minister further noted that the private sector is the engine of tourism economy, adding that the engines require fuel, which is talents.” by investing in these young people today, you are securing the quality, the innovation and competitiveness of our own industry for tomorrow.
She added that the establishment of the office represents a deliberate investment in the intellectual capital of the country.
The GTDC boss, Prof.Kobby Mensah, said,”at GTDC, we believe that if our tourism has to be sustainable, we have to promote domestic tourism and a very big part of it is getting students to appreciate tourism and helping them to organise tours.”
He added that the University of Ghana itself is a huge heritage site which must be explored.
Prof.Kobby Mensah noted that the initiative, which is one of many to be established across the country, is a joint partnership between GTDC and University of Ghana.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof.Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, said the University is a custodian of heritage which goes beyond the structures and welcomed the establishment of the first Campus Tourism Office.
She was optimistic that the office would be put to good use to achieve the intended purpose.
The launch brought together Stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to nurturing future tourism and hospitality professionals.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Ghana has officially accepted an invitation to serve as Guest Country at Burkina Faso’s 22nd National Culture Week in Bobo-Dioulasso from April 22 to May 2, 2026.
The invitation was extended by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo, accompanied by the Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Ghana, H.E. David Kabré.
Receiving the delegation, Abla Dzifa Gomashie reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to deepening cultural diplomacy and strengthening historic ties between the two nations.
She noted that the festival will create opportunities for young creatives, expand exhibition platforms and promote commercial exchange within the creative sector.
The event will feature cultural performances, a community village and gastronomy fair, an arts market, literary engagements, and a craft and trade fair.
Ghana’s participation is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations between John Dramani Mahama and Ibrahim Traoré, while fostering collaboration within the creative ecosystems of both countries.
