Gender representation in Ghana’s political landscape

After years of anticipation, Ghana’s Parliament has finally passed the Affirmative Action Bill, which has been under deliberation since 2011. The bill, now awaiting presidential assent, has generated significant discussion, with calls from civil society organisations (CSOs), gender activists, and other stakeholders who have long advocated for its passage.  Why has this bill received so much attention, and what does its passage mean for the future of women in Ghanaian politics?

Globally, there have been several calls over the years to promote equal representation of women in all aspects of society, with politics being one sector where a significant gender gap persists.

According to data from UN Women as of January 1, 2024, 27 countries have 28 women serving as Heads of State and/or Government, while only 6 countries have achieved 50 percent or more women in their single or lower houses of parliament. Despite some significant progress in increasing women’s participation in politics over the years, the global ratio of women to men remains notably low, and Ghana is no exception. From local to national levels, the representation of women in political positions in Ghana remains insufficient.

Since the attainment of independence, Ghana’s eighth parliament in the Fourth Republic has recorded the highest representation of women in parliament, with 40 female Members of Parliament (MPs) out of 275, representing 14.5 percent according to data by Inter- Parliamentary- Union (IPU). This implies that out of seven MPs, one would be female. Despite this increase, there is a significant gender gap in politics. Ghana hasn’t attained the global average of 30 percent representation of women in parliament recommended by the United Nations.  The recent district-level elections held in December 2023 revealed that 95.9 percent of the 6,243 persons elected as assembly members were male, while females constituted 4.1 percent.

Understanding the Need for the Affirmative Action Bill

Ghana, being the first African country to attain independence, one would be expecting the country to lead gender parity in terms of politics.  However, the country is lagging. The 2023 Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) report ranked Ghana 147 out of 193 countries, falling behind Sub-Saharan African countries like Rwanda, Senegal, and Namibia, which placed first, fourteenth, and eighteenth respectively. In terms of political empowerment, Ghana was ranked 119th out of 146 countries in the 2024 global gender gap report.

Several factors account for the underrepresentation of women in politics in Ghana. First , Ghana’s traditionally patriarchal society and socially ascribed gender roles  have  created a culture where men are supposed to be leaders and  women are expected to be submissive and obedient to men which has created a perception where women are not  likely to contend with men for political positions. The implication is that women who try to be different by seeking  political positions may face social stigma and discrimination for deviating from traditional gender roles.

Another significant barrier is the high cost of political campaigns. Women often have less access to financial resources compared to men.  Political parties and financiers are wary of sponsoring female politicians, partly because they believe women are less likely to win elections.

Data from the Ghana Statistical Service on the 2021 Population and Housing Census indicates that women constitute 50.7% of the country’s population. Can we afford to exclude women from decision-making processes when they make up more than half of our population? Women’s involvement in decision-making processes in governance is critical for sustainable development, not only because they constitute most of the Ghanaian population but also because they are discriminated against and underrepresented in socio-economic and political development activities, thereby widening the gender gap.

When women are underrepresented in political positions policies may lack diverse perspectives, particularly on issues that predominantly affect women and children. Excluding women from political decision-making processes can lead to a significant underutilization of the available talent pool, potentially hampering economic growth and development.

The Affirmative Action Bill: A Step in the Right Direction

Therefore, to achieve gender parity in politics, conscious efforts need to be taken. Achieving gender parity in politics in Ghana involves an approach that addresses cultural, structural, and institutional barriers.

Studies have shown that countries that have achieved parity in women’s representation have done so by introducing deliberative mandatory Affirmative Action measures. A case in point would be Rwanda, affirmative action is an integral part of the country’s constitution warranting at least 30% representation of women in decision-making organs. Rwanda is one of the few countries in Africa and the world with the highest representation of women in parliament and other political positions.

Even though Ghana is lagging behind in terms of gender representation in politics, the affirmative action bill is a step in the right direction to help increase the representation of women especially in politics. While the gap remains wide, the bill has the potential to increase women’s representation in politics, creating a more inclusive and diverse political landscape in the years to come.

Source: Gloria Azumah is the Acting Team Lead, Communication at the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement, University of Ghana.