Mahama calls for law to punish sexual demands for jobs

President John Dramani Mahama has called for a new law to criminalise employers who demand romantic or sexual relationships in exchange for job opportunities, describing the practice as unacceptable and a serious abuse that must be stopped. He made the remarks on Saturday, May 2, 2026, during a town hall meeting at Adweso in Koforidua, as part of a two-day tour of the Eastern Region. The President was responding to a question from a female student of Ghana Senior High School, Koforidua, who raised concerns about gender inequality in employment, saying men are often favoured over women in the job market. President Mahama said it is wrong for anyone to link employment to sexual favours and urged strong legal action against offenders. “It is unacceptable. It must stop. And I think that we must take a firm line on that,” he said, adding that such behaviour should attract strict punishment under the law. He also noted that women are capable of excelling in all fields when given the opportunity, citing examples of female engineers he has met on road construction sites under the Big Push Programme. “I find it very admirable when I see the girls doing those kinds of jobs,” he said, adding that he often encourages them during site visits. President Mahama further reaffirmed his government’s commitment to achieving gender balance in public appointments by 2028, in line with the Affirmative Action law, which targets 50-50 representation between men and women in key positions.