Sheila Minkah-Premo, lawyer and convenor of the Affirmative Action Coalition, has called for a renewed focus on addressing gender inequality in Ghana.
Speaking on TownHall Talk on August 2, Minkah-Premo emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy to tackle persistent gender disparities.
Minkah-Premo highlighted the deeply ingrained sociocultural norms that perpetuate a patriarchal system, where men are often seen as natural leaders, resulting in the marginalization of women in leadership roles.
“We live in a patriarchal system that places men at the headship, sidelining women,” she said. “There’s a tendency to push women aside and ensure that men hold leadership.
We need to work towards addressing this.”
She pointed out that recent legal frameworks include strategies to confront these sociocultural issues but stressed that education and sensitization are crucial for changing mindsets and promoting equal opportunities.
“It calls on schools, right from when our children are younger, to start sensitizing them that both boys and girls can achieve as much as possible,” Minkah-Premo added.
Minkah-Premo also addressed the role of religious beliefs in reinforcing traditional gender roles, citing the historical reluctance of some significant Protestant churches to ordain women as priests.
She noted that this reflects broader societal attitudes towards women’s leadership.
“A lot of advocacy and sensitization still needs to happen to change mindsets,” she asserted, urging governmental and societal leaders to intensify their efforts to promote gender equality in Ghana.
