Nearly a year after Gha­na passed the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act in July 2024, stakeholders have expressed concern over the slow pace of its implementation and called for urgent steps to opera­tionalise the law.At a national dialogue held yesterday in Accra, civil society groups, government officials, and international partners gathered to assess progress and renew their commitment to ensuring that the law delivers on its promise of greater gender representation in leadership."We have waited for almost a year and we want to see real movement, though the law may not solve all inequalities, it marks a significant step forward and must be matched with determined action," they said.In a speech read on behalf of the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Madam Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, she acknowledged concerns raised by some stakeholders over the slow pace of implementation and em­phasized the need for continuous collaboration.According to her efforts had already begun to put structures in place, including compiling a list of nominees for a Gender Equity Committee, which has been forwarded to the presidency for approval."A strategic plan for establishing a secre­tariat to support the committee's work has been submitted to the Ministry of Finance, and discussions are ongoing with development partners such as the World Bank for further support," she explained.According to the Minis­ter, a draft legislative instrument was also being drafted following an initial meeting with the Attor­ney General's office. "The Ministry has distributed copies of the Act to major stakeholders including security services, MDAs, MMDAs and development agencies, while infographics and training sessions are being rolled out to raise aware­ness".Mrs Lartey however described the law as a milestone in Ghana's pursuit of inclusive governance and national development.She said the Act sets a minimum target of 30 per cent female represen­tation in public and private sector leadership by 2026, with a long-term goal of 50 per cent by 2034.Resource Mobilisation and Sus­tainability Manager, Abantu for Development, Madam Hamida Harrison, reaffirmed Abantu for Development's commitment to hosting and supporting the Gen­der Equity Coalition, which she said would serve as a watchdog, monitoring timelines, strategies and the mechanisms put in place.The Convener of Affirma­tive Action Law Coalition, Mrs Sheila Minka-Premo,called for immediate steps to ac­tivate the structures and strategies required to fully implement the law and achieve gender equity in leadership and governance.She urged gender units to gather baseline data from institutions to measure improvement over time, adding that it would help set tar­gets and monitor achievements.Ms Carolyn McKee, Senior Programme Officer for Global Analysis at the Global Center for Pluralism in Canada, said her organisation would continue to support the dialogue and remained committed to promoting inclusion in Ghana."The Centre's Global Plural­ism Monitor report, offers useful insights into the country's gender, ethnic, religious, and regional dynamics," she said. BY AGNES OPOKU SAR­PONG