This call to action was announced during the opening of the International Women’s Day Art Exhibition on March 8, 2024, under the theme “Invest in Women; Accelerate Progress.”

In her address to the media, Nneka Okereke emphasized that this extension would facilitate equitable representation for women across various spheres, enabling them to fully develop their potential and make meaningful contributions to national development.

“The Affirmative Action Bill has been in the works for a long time but with the partnership that the World Bank had with the Ghanaian government, we have partnered with the Gender Ministry and Finance Ministry to help elevate the bill to Parliament. And that will give women 30 percent of equal access and inclusion in government agencies but we want to see that in the private sector as well to increase women’s participation in leadership positions.”

Meanwhile, the President of the Women’s Art Institute Africa (WAi Africa), Akwele Suma Glory, highlighted the prevalence of gender bias favouring male artists in the art industry.

“The art industry is a male-dominated one but lately, the challenge is not as it used to be. Like in all other disciplines, men are favoured most of the time and given better opportunities. You go to places and need space to display and when you are a woman, the reception is some way and that is a challenge.”