CDD Boss Backs ‘Sex-for-Jobs’ Criminalisation

Professor H Kwasi Prempeh, Executive Director of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development and Chairman of the 2025 Constitutional Review Committee, has thrown his full support behind moves to criminalise sex for jobs practices, describing the proposed legislation as long overdue and necessary.

Responding to recent calls for reform, he indicated that CDD-Ghana is ready to assist in drafting the legislation, offering its expertise to the Attorney General’s Department and the Ministry of Justice at no cost.

“CDD Ghana would be more than happy to work with your Attorney General’s Department and Ministry of Justice to draft such a progressive, long overdue bill,” he stated, adding that with the governing party’s strong parliamentary majority, the passage of such a law should not face major obstacles.

He further described the initiative as a defining opportunity for the current administration, suggesting that its successful implementation could stand as a significant reform milestone.

According to him, the legislation would represent a meaningful step toward addressing abuse of power in employment settings and could become a notable legacy achievement.

The renewed push for legislation follows comments by President John Dramani Mahama, who recently called for strict legal measures to address the issue.

Speaking during a town hall meeting in Koforidua on May 2, 2026, the President described the practice as exploitative and unacceptable.

He noted that in some cases, employers demand romantic or sexual relationships as a condition for offering jobs, a situation he said undermines fairness and merit.

“A lot of our girls face a lot of discrimination when they are looking for jobs. One of the worst things, and I think we should pass a bill to make it very punishable, is that sometimes if the employer or the person responsible for employing is a male, they demand some romantic relationship before they give them jobs.

It is unacceptable. It must stop. And I think that we must take a firm line on that. I mean, if anybody does that, there should be a law that deals with them very strongly”, the President stressed.

The President emphasized the need for firm legal consequences, stating that the practice must be eliminated through decisive legislative action.

Legal Framework

Professor Prempeh’s intervention highlights the growing consensus among policy experts and civil society actors that legal reform is essential to addressing the issue effectively.

He suggested that the proposed law should go beyond criminal sanctions to include civil remedies, enabling victims to seek redress through multiple legal avenues.

Such a framework, he argued, would strengthen accountability while providing protection for individuals who may otherwise be reluctant to report abuse.

Legal analysts note that drafting an effective law will require clear definitions of prohibited conduct, robust reporting mechanisms, and safeguards against victim intimidation or retaliation.

The issue of sex for jobs is closely linked to broader concerns about gender inequality in Ghana’s labour market. President Mahama acknowledged this during his engagement with citizens, particularly in response to concerns raised by a female student.

He noted that women often face barriers to employment despite possessing equal qualifications, a situation that is exacerbated by exploitative practices. The President highlighted the importance of creating an environment where opportunities are based on merit rather than coercion.

He also pointed to positive developments, including the increasing presence of women in traditionally male-dominated professions.

“I find it very admirable when I see the girls doing those kinds of jobs,” he said, referring to female engineers he has encountered on project sites.