Women’s participation in local level governance in selected districts in the Central Region of Ghana

Abstract

Calls for more female participation in politics have been featured strongly in developed and developing countries since 1975, when the United Nations made women’s issues a priority. However, women still face challenges in their quest to participate in local level politics. The objectives of the study were to examine the socio-economic factors that affect women’s participation in local level governance; identify the cultural barriers that affect women’s participation in local level governance; determine the religious barriers that affect women’s participation in local level govenance; and to explore the avenues that exist to support women in local level governance in the Central Region of Ghana. The qualitative approach was employed for this study, and an interview guide was used to gather data from 11 women assembly members and two husbands of two women assembly members, making a total of 13 participants. The participants were sampled using purposive, snowball and convenient sampling techniques. The data was analysed thematically. The study identified lack of self-confidence, limited funds, unsupportive family, abuse and harassment, political affiliations in the Assembly and unsupportive religious organizations as the socio-economic, cultural and religious barriers to women participation in local level governance in Agona West, Gomoa West and Gomoa Central districts in the Central Region of Ghana. The findings from the study also showed that though there are some avenues such as NGOs, NCCE and Abantu for development that support women in local level politics, such avenues are not enough and, therefore, more of such avenues should be created in every electoral area. While patriarchal beliefs still abound in society, some women have been empowered through education and have been able to build strong social capital to resist patriarchy and overcome barriers to involve themselves in local politics. The study recommend that special development fund should be set up by the government to support Assembly women to perform their roles and responsibilities within their communities. Such funds may help them fulfil their promises, which may encourage them to seek re-election that may maintain the few elected Assembly women in the District Assemblies. In addition, Civil society and Non-governmental organizations should support women to participate in local level governance in the Gomoa West, Agona West and the Gomoa Central Districts in the Central Region of Ghana.