Legislation in Ghana targets gender equality and offers aid for female-run tech startups, aiming to enhance inclusivity in the innovation sector.
Ghana's Innovation and Startups Bill: A Leap Towards Gender Inclusivity and Tech Growth
Ghana's Innovation and Startups Bill, currently under deliberation, aims to foster gender inclusivity and encourage the establishment of more female-led startups in the tech sector. This bill is a significant step towards bridging the digital gender gap and positioning Ghana as a leading African nation in terms of emerging technology companies.
The bill provides the necessary framework for furthering startup growth and increasing female participation in the sector. It targets barriers women face and fosters equal participation through several measures.
Supporting Women Entrepreneurs
The bill includes targeted support for women entrepreneurs and startups led by women in the tech sector. This support comes in the form of dedicated programs and funding opportunities aimed at bridging the digital gender gap.
Digital Skills Training
Recognising the importance of digital skills in the startup ecosystem, the bill provides digital skills and literacy training tailored to women and girls. This training aims to enhance their capacity to benefit from startup ecosystems.
Promoting Gender Balance
The bill also seeks to ensure gender balance in innovation and startup support initiatives. This includes recruitment, training, and participation in innovation programs.
Addressing Barriers
The bill addresses safety, privacy, and cultural barriers that traditionally limit women's access to technology and startup resources. By doing so, it aims to create a more inclusive environment for women in tech.
Collaboration with Women's Groups
The bill encourages collaboration with women's groups and gender-focused organizations to develop inclusive policies and frameworks within the innovation ecosystem.
These measures align with broader efforts to close the digital gender gap, recognising that enhancing women's full participation in the digital economy can significantly boost economic growth and innovation capacity in Ghana.
A Holistic Approach
The promotion of gender equality extends beyond the Innovation and Startups Bill. For instance, sectoral projects related to energy and innovation, such as training collaborations with groups like “Women in Engineering,” ensure more women actively participate.
The Road Ahead
The success of the Innovation and Startups Bill in promoting gender inclusivity will depend on well-thought-out policies and strong enforcement. Clear timelines, enforcement mechanisms, and accountability structures are crucial for its successful implementation.
If implemented successfully, Ghana could position itself as West Africa's leading startup hub, boosting its economy and providing opportunities for women in tech. Key figures like Ethel Delali Cofie emphasise the importance of ensuring the bill is not just a policy on paper but a fully functional system.
Other advocates, such as Adjei and Eyison, argue for the inclusion of solid countermeasures to prevent discrimination against women. They also stress the importance of early-stage STEM education, equitable access to funding, mentorship, networking, inclusive hiring practices, equal pay, family-friendly work environments, and public-private partnerships to drive greater female participation in tech.
The Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (GI-KACE) has already played a key role in empowering women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). With the Innovation and Startups Bill, Ghana continues to take significant strides towards gender inclusivity and tech growth.
[1] International Telecommunication Union (ITU) [2] United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
- The Ghana's Innovation and Startups Bill is supported by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), as it aligns with their efforts to close the digital gender gap and foster gender inclusivity in the tech sector.
- The bill's approach to supporting women entrepreneurs and startups in the tech sector extends to policy initiatives and partnerships with organizations like Women in Engineering, aiming to increase the participation of women in general-news topics such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
- Finance and business leaders emphasize the importance of equitable access to funding, mentorship, networking, and public-private partnerships to ensure a more inclusive environment for women in the tech sector, contributing to economic growth and innovation capacity in Ghana.
- A successful implementation of the Innovation and Startups Bill could lead to Ghana becoming a model for policy-and-legislation and politics in West Africa, as a leading African nation in terms of emerging technology companies and gender inclusivity, setting a standard in the health-and-wellness and women's-health sectors as well.
