ILO urges Ghana to embed gender equality in climate policies
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has urged Ghana to integrate gender equality into climate policies through implementation of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024.
The Organisation said the Act should help ensure women were not left behind as Ghana transitions to a green economy.
Mr Gideon Mankralo, National Project Coordinator of the ILO, made the call at a capacity-building workshop for Chief Directors and Gender Desk Officers in Accra on implementation of the Act.
He said climate change disproportionately affected women because many were engaged in informal employment, subsistence agriculture and unpaid care work, sectors that were highly vulnerable to floods, extreme heat and changing rainfall patterns.
“Climate change has the potential to deepen existing gender inequalities unless deliberate corrective measures are taken. This is precisely where affirmative action becomes indispensable,” Mr Mankralo said.
He urged Gender Focal Persons to ensure climate action within their institutions was gender-responsive and commended the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection for advancing implementation of the legislation.
Mr Mankralo said the Act reflected Ghana’s commitment to promoting equitable participation of women and men in leadership, employment and decision-making, but stressed that “legislation alone does not produce equality. Implementation does.”
Drawing on the ILO’s “Just Transition” approach, he said the transition to environmentally sustainable economies must be fair and inclusive, with equal access to green skills, finance, decent work and social protection.
He identified six priorities for Ghana: integrating gender into climate policies, investing in women’s green skills, expanding finance for women-led green enterprises, increasing women’s access to climate finance, strengthening gender-responsive labour data and promoting women’s leadership in climate governance.
“The implementation of the Affirmative Action Act comes at a defining moment. As Ghana accelerates climate resilience and green industrialisation, these two priorities must reinforce one another,” he said.
“If we succeed, Ghana can build an economy that is greener, more productive, more resilient and more equitable.”
Mr Mankralo urged Gender Focal Persons to view implementation of the Act as an opportunity to ensure climate action generated decent work while leaving no one behind.
Source: GNA