A Women’s Rights Advocate, Becky Enyonam Ahadzi, has attributed the low representation of women in Ghanaian politics to structural weaknesses within the country’s electoral system.
Speaking at a policy dialogue in Accra, Ms Ahadzi argued that despite constitutional guarantees of equality, systemic barriers continue to limit women’s participation in governance.
The dialogue, organised by the Institute for Democratic Governance in partnership with Oxfam, brought together key stakeholders including legal experts, political actors, civil society groups, and youth leaders.
According to Ms Ahadzi, Ghana’s reliance on the first-past-the-post electoral system has contributed significantly to the gender imbalance in political representation.
“In a political landscape shaped by entrenched patriarchal norms and increasing monetisation of politics, the chances of women emerging as leaders remain limited,” she noted.
She explained that although Article 17 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana guarantees equality before the law, weak enforcement mechanisms have failed to translate this into meaningful representation for women.
Drawing comparisons with countries such as Rwanda and Kenya, Ms Ahadzi pointed out that proportional representation systems, coupled with constitutional quotas, have significantly improved women’s participation in governance.
She noted that such frameworks not only promote gender inclusion but also create opportunities for youth and persons with disabilities.
Ms Ahadzi further stressed that Ghana’s ongoing constitutional review process presents a critical opportunity to introduce enforceable measures that can address these disparities.
However, she expressed concern that the current report by the Constitution Review Committee does not include provisions for quotas for women in Parliament and local government.
Participants at the forum underscored the urgent need for institutional and legal safeguards to build a more inclusive and representative democratic system.
