The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, has disclosed that her Ministry has a strong comprehensive framework to execute its mandate. To achieve the Ministry’s objectives, Mrs Lithur said several bills have been earmarked for 2016.

Key among them is the Affirmative Action bill, which she says is currently under review by the Attorney General’s Department.

The Minister holds the view that the bill is the solution to achieving gender equality with respect to women's participation in decision-making.

The Affirmative Action law would provide legally-mandated systems, structures, and policies to ensure women's equal participation in national issues.

Mrs Lithur is optimistic that the bill will be submitted to parliament within the first quarter of 2016.

“I’m happy to announce that we have a final version of the Affirmative Action bill. The Attorney General is putting final touches [to it] and in the first quarter of 2016, we will submit the Affirmative Action bill to cabinet for approval,” she told Joy FM in Accra.

The Ministry has already submitted the Intestate Succession and the Poverty Rights for Spouses bills before parliament with the optimism that they will also be considered and passed in 2016.

If approved, the new Intestate Succession bill – which will enable spouses to have equal share in properties, no matter each spouse’s contribution to the acquisition of the wealth – is to be put before parliament.