The Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, has voiced strong criticisms against the current version of the Affirmative Action Bill before Ghana's parliament.

Speaking at the 15th MTN Pulse Africa Transform Summit in Kumasi, Mr. Iddrisu expressed dissatisfaction with how the bill's provisions seemed to prioritize models from other countries rather than addressing Ghana's unique challenges and context.

In his remarks, Mr. Iddrisu highlighted what he perceives as the bill's shortcomings, arguing that it does not adequately reflect Ghanaian realities.

"I have seen Ghana struggle to pass an affirmative action bill. I told the minister the other time that the bill in its form and character is a bad law. Bad law," he stated emphatically.

The MP emphasized that while Ghana certainly needs an affirmative action law to promote gender equality and women's participation in governance, the current bill falls short in its approach.

He criticized the comparison of Ghana to countries like Rwanda, Uganda, and Eritrea, where different constitutional frameworks and laws have been implemented to enhance women's representation.

"In Rwanda and in Uganda, there is representation of women based on appointment. In Ghana, you say competitive election. The women are too shy to do competitive elections. They don’t have the money," Mr. Iddrisu noted, underscoring the practical challenges faced by Ghanaian women in participating effectively in electoral politics.

Moreover, Mr. Iddrisu lamented the state of democracy in Ghana, describing it as a "monecracy" where financial resources often determine electoral success. He candidly admitted his own involvement in this system and urged the youth to speak out against such practices.

"We have reduced our democracy to monocracy. Here it is now about who pays more and who is the highest bidder. That is wrong and young people you must speak about it even though I am an actor of it," he urged, reflecting on the evolving dynamics of Ghanaian politics.

Mr. Iddrisu, drawing from his own political journey, highlighted the changes in campaign dynamics over the years.

"When my generation started, it was not about how much money you brought to a polling station and how much you paid. Today I am not sure a candidate on a motorbike will be accepted," he observed, pointing to the evolving financial demands of modern-day electoral campaigns.

In conclusion, Mr. Iddrisu called for a reconsideration of the Affirmative Action Bill to better align with Ghana's socio-political realities and empower women in meaningful ways within the political landscape.