Women in Politics in Ghana: A Study on Local Government in the Greater Accra Region

Fs Odame

doi:10.4314/gjds.v7i1.61401

Abstract

Women’s participation in politics in Ghana is low, both at local and the national level. This reflects the global trend of women’s participation in politics. This paper examines ways of deepening women’s participation as assembly members in local government. It examines women’s participation in politics with the aim of suggesting ways of enhancing women’s political participation. Primary Data was collected using questionnaires and interviews. Three major problems were identified as the main barriers to women’s participation in Ghanaian politics. Women in Ghana earned low incomes coupled with low educational status. Also, lack of confidence was found to be a barrier because the women explained that politics is for men. The recommendation is that both men and women should be sensitized to erase the deep-seated misconception that politics is for men. Also, women should be empowered economically and educationally so as to be able to compete favourably with their male counterparts in politics. KEY DESCRIPTORS: Decentralization, Assemblywomen, Women’s Empowerment, Local Government, Political Participation.

Highlights

Strengthening women's participation in all spheres of life has become a major issue in the discourse of economic and social development in the last decade
According to a research by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) (2005) the rate of female representation stands at about 16% globally
An interesting observation was made that the higher the age of the assemblywoman, the less interest she had in pursuing a political career especially at the national level

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Strengthening women's participation in all spheres of life has become a major issue in the discourse of economic and social development in the last decade. Between 1975 and1986, Ghana initiated programmes, projects and activities to increase the level of women’s participation in public life at the local and national levels, to enhance their access to formal education and professional training, improve upon their standard of living and their status in society by increasing their income earning capacity. Patriarchal practices and the current socioeconomic status of women do little to encourage women’s active participation in the political arena These somewhat explain the difficulties women experience in accessing higher education and economic resources, and the resistance they sometimes face from men (or other women) in their own communities. The study is informed by the fact that in a developing country like Ghana, tapping the potentials of everybody including women, for national development should be a national priority

METHODOLOGY

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DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION