Ghana has moved into a new phase of implementing its gender equity legislation, with government establishing structures to monitor compliance by public institutions.
Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, said the implementation framework for the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act is now operational, following the establishment of the Gender Equity Committee and Secretariat.
She said the Legislative Instrument, L.I. 2522, matured in June 2026, providing additional mechanisms for institutions to comply with the gender equity law and report on progress.
“Ghana has moved from advocacy to enforcement: institutions are now legally obligated to act on gender equity, with monitoring tools in place to hold them to it,” Dr Lartey said.
The Minister revealed that 2,321 stakeholders had so far been sensitised on the new framework, while 47 institutions have submitted compliance reports.
She added that 37 sensitisation programmes have also reached nearly 11,000 people with information on sexual and gender-based violence, child marriage and harmful cultural practices.
She said the enforcement framework would help shift gender equality from policy commitments to measurable institutional action and provide government with a clearer basis for tracking compliance across the public sector.
Shelter for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence
Meanwhile, the Minister further disclosed that her outfit is working towards establishing a network of shelters across all 16 regions to provide protection and rehabilitation for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
She said the Ministry has already commissioned a shelter in Accra and supported two additional facilities in the Upper West and Eastern regions.
Dr. Lartey noted that the facilities are providing survivors with access to protection, counselling and other forms of assistance as they recover from abuse and exploitation.
She said the Ministry intends to expand the shelter network further, with plans to construct two to three additional facilities in 2027 as part of efforts to improve access to support services outside Accra.
“For any survivor of sexual or gender-based violence watching today, the Orange Support Center is reachable, toll-free, on 0800 111 222 or by WhatsApp on 055 1755 7575,” she said.
The Minister said expanding the shelter network would help ensure that survivors do not have to travel long distances to access specialised support and would strengthen the country’s response to gender-based violence.
Gender Ministry has no money, no staff, no power to cater for Ghana’s vulnerable – IMANI
