Women in Politics in Ghana, Research Paper Example

This video describes a project that follows women campaigning as part of the effort to increase the number of women elected to positions in politics in Ghana, West Africa. In the 2010 District Assembly race, 40 plus women campaigned to represent the Upper West Region of Ghana in the election. Compared to a single women who ran to represent Wa Municipality, the largest district in the race, three women ran in the 2006 election.  The 2010 race resulted in 10 female candidates with three being elected.

Some of the difference in the number of women candidates in 2006 and 2010 may have resulted from better access to transportation.  In this case this involved bicycles which were supplied by the YWCA Canada and Canadian Crossroads International and provided through a local Ghana partner, ABANTU for Development. Yet this still represents a decreasing trend.  The inclusion and participation of women in Ghana although once greater, has always been extremely low despite women making up more than 50% of elected voters.  A statement taken before the election took place reported “the participation of women in the political and electoral process remains dismal, despite the fact that Ghana has made huge strides in its democratic process”.

As Ghana struggles toward Democracy, the participation of women in politics and government as elected officials is critical. When more than half of the voting population is not fully represented there cannot be equal consideration of the needs of all people within Ghana.  More programs need to be developed to help women learn to advocate for women’s rights in terms of public policy matters, campaign for political office, get elected, learn to govern in a successful manner, and act with full involvement in each part of political and non-political life.