Contributions of non-governmental organisations to women’s participation in local governance in the Tamale Metropolis of Ghana

Roland Adatuu,George Gyader

doi:10.4314/gjds.v16i2.4

Roland Adatuu, George Gyader

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4314/gjds.v16i2.4

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Abstract

In Ghana there are many legal documents and actions seeking to advance women’s participation in governance at the local and national levels. For instance, the Constitution of the country frowns on any discrimination against women. Ghana has also been a primary signatory and has ratified a number of conventions and declarations such as the current Sustainable Development Goals. Despite these efforts, women still lag behind men in terms of their numbers and level of participation especially in local governance. Recently, certain non-governmental organisations, including the Northern Sector Action on Awareness Centre, Campaign for Female Education and Action Aid Ghana, have taken the lead in the Tamale Metropolis to champion the course (financing, educating and training) of women in participating at the local level of the governance process. A cross-sectional observation of the target group of people was supplemented with questionnaire, key informant interviews and focus group discussions as data collection tools. Data analysis was both qualitative and quantitative. The paper concludes that Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) contribution to the participation of women in local governance in the Tamale Metropolis. Recommendations included provision of a conducive environment and promotion of education and training for women. Keywords: Participation, NGOs, Women, Governance, Politics

Highlights

Women play an important role towards social, political, cultural and economic development
This study shows that women themselves can contribute to remove the challenges that hinder their participation in local governance in the Tamale Metropolis
Fifteen (10%) of the respondents mentioned that the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) organised gender right-based awareness programmes for women to enlighten them on their ability to vie for office at local governance structures

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Women play an important role towards social, political, cultural and economic development. In 2001 especially, a special Ministry was created to address the concerns of women and children in Ghana This issue of women in development and its effective implementation or practice continues to be discussed at the local level. ABANTU for Development in Ghana among others advocated women’s participation for equality, but equitably in local governance Despite these ground breaking efforts, evidence in Ghana suggests that women do not have a full complement of representation in local level governance like their men counterparts. It is amidst this rather beguiling situation that Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), such as, the Northern Sector Action on Awareness Centre (NORSAAC), Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) and Action Aid Ghana have marshalled forces to support women to participate at the grass-root level in the Tamale Metropolis. Some recommendations from the study include: promotion of favourable environment for women to contest in more elections; and promoting the education and training of women in the Tamale Metropolis

LITERATURE REVIEW

Findings

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS