The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has issued a critical call for Ghana to embed gender equality into its climate change policies, emphasizing the need for systemic integration of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 to ensure women are not marginalized in the nation’s transition toward a green economy.
Speaking at a capacity-building workshop for Chief Directors and Gender Desk Officers in Accra, Mr. Gideon Mankralo, the National Project Coordinator of the ILO, underscored the urgency of aligning gender equity measures with climate resilience strategies. The workshop, focused on the implementation of the Affirmative Action Act, highlighted how climate change disproportionately impacts women due to their overrepresentation in informal employment, subsistence agriculture, and unpaid care work—sectors that are particularly vulnerable to floods, extreme heat, and erratic rainfall patterns.
Why Gender Equality Must Be Central to Climate Policy
Mankralo warned that without deliberate interventions, climate change could exacerbate existing gender inequalities, particularly in vulnerable communities. He stressed that affirmative action is not just a social policy but a strategic necessity for equitable climate adaptation and mitigation.
“Climate change has the potential to deepen existing gender inequalities unless deliberate corrective measures are taken. This is precisely where affirmative action becomes indispensable.”
The ILO official commended the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection for its efforts in advancing the legislation but cautioned that legislation alone cannot guarantee equality—implementation is key. He urged Gender Focal Persons across government institutions to ensure that climate action initiatives are gender-responsive, meaning they must actively address the unique challenges faced by women in climate-sensitive sectors.
The Just Transition Framework: Ensuring Fairness in Ghana’s Green Economy
Drawing from the ILO’s “Just Transition” framework, Mankralo emphasized that Ghana’s shift toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy must be fair, inclusive, and equitable. This requires:
– Equal access to green skills for both men and women.
– Decent work opportunities in emerging green industries.
– Social protection mechanisms to safeguard vulnerable groups.
He identified six critical priorities for Ghana to achieve a gender-equitable green transition:
- Integrating Gender into Climate Policies – Ensuring that national climate strategies explicitly address women’s needs and roles in climate adaptation.
- Investing in Women’s Green Skills – Providing targeted training and upskilling programs to empower women in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and climate-smart technologies.
- Expanding Finance for Women-Led Green Enterprises – Facilitating access to climate finance, grants, and low-interest loans for women entrepreneurs in green sectors.
- Increasing Women’s Access to Climate Finance – Strengthening mechanisms that allow women to participate in carbon credit markets, climate funds, and green investment schemes.
- Strengthening Gender-Responsive Labour Data – Collecting and analyzing disaggregated data on gender to inform policy decisions and track progress in gender-inclusive climate action.
- Promoting Women’s Leadership in Climate Governance – Encouraging women’s participation in policy-making, decision-making bodies, and climate negotiations at all levels.
A Defining Moment for Ghana’s Economic Future
Mankralo framed the implementation of the Affirmative Action Act as a pivotal opportunity for Ghana to build an economy that is not only greener and more productive but also more resilient and equitable.
“The implementation of the Affirmative Action Act comes at a defining moment. As Ghana accelerates climate resilience and green industrialization, these two priorities must reinforce one another. If we succeed, Ghana can build an economy that is greener, more productive, more resilient, and more equitable.”
He urged Gender Focal Persons to view the Act’s implementation as a transformative opportunity—one that could generate decent work, reduce poverty, and ensure that no one is left behind in the transition to a sustainable future.
The Path Forward: Decent Work and Climate Justice
Mankralo’s remarks reinforced the ILO’s broader mission of ensuring that climate action does not come at the cost of gender equality. He called on Ghanaian institutions to adopt a holistic approach, where gender equity is not an afterthought but a foundational pillar of climate policy.
By integrating these principles, Ghana can mitigate climate risks while fostering economic growth, social justice, and sustainable development—ensuring that the benefits of a green economy are shared equitably across all genders.
The workshop served as a critical step in mobilizing stakeholders to take action, reinforcing that gender equality is not just a social goal but a strategic imperative for Ghana’s climate-resilient future.