Growing concerns about the safety of women in politics could undermine efforts to strengthen inclusive governance in Ghana as the country prepares for the 2027 district-level elections.
New research presented at a roundtable discussion in Accra has revealed that violence and intimidation against women in politics remain significant barriers preventing many from contesting leadership positions, particularly at the local government level.
The event was organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ghana and the Nordic Africa Institute (NAI), bringing together researchers, policymakers, development partners and members of the diplomatic community to examine structural challenges limiting women’s political participation.
Presenting the findings, senior researcher at NAI, Diana Højlund Madsen, explained that violence against women in politics is not isolated but part of a wider systemic problem that discourages female political engagement.
She shared insights from the newly released book Making Politics Safer – Mitigating Violence against Women in Politics in Africa: Insights from Ghana, Kenya and Zimbabwe, which is based on 134 interviews with politically active women.
According to the research, women who engage in politics often face multiple forms of intimidation, including physical, psychological, sexual and economic abuse. Other tactics include harassment, moral accusations, threats against family members and online attacks intended to discourage their political involvement.
The study highlighted that gender-based electoral violence often reinforces male-dominated political systems, making it difficult for women to fully participate in decision-making processes.
Statistics cited during the discussion revealed that women currently occupy only 4.1 per cent of district assembly positions in Ghana, raising concerns about gender imbalance in local governance.
“If we want inclusive local governance, we must not only focus on bringing women into politics, but also examine the conditions under which they participate,” Ms Madsen said.
Complementing the comparative research, UNDP Ghana presented findings from its own work on women’s participation in local governance and peacebuilding, particularly in northern Ghana.
The assessment found that despite Ghana’s strong democratic reputation, women and young people remain underrepresented in local decision-making processes in many districts.
The report also referenced Ghana’s commitments to global gender equality frameworks such as the United Nations-backed Beijing Platform for Action, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
Speaking at the roundtable, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to Ghana, Jakob Linulf, emphasised the need for stronger collaboration and evidence-based policies to advance gender equality.
He noted that the full participation of women in political, economic and social life remains critical to sustainable development and democratic resilience.
The UNDP Ghana Resident Representative, Niloy Banerjee, also stressed that the issue extends beyond gender equality to the overall health of democratic governance.
“When women and young people are excluded, intimidated or silenced, the legitimacy, responsiveness and effectiveness of our institutions are weakened,” he said.
Participants at the roundtable called for stronger coordination among political parties, local authorities, election management bodies and civil society organisations to create safer political environments for women.
The discussions formed part of the research initiative Making Politics Safer – Gendered Violence and Electoral Temporalities in Africa, funded by the Swedish National Research Council.
Stakeholders noted that the findings could guide reforms aimed at protecting women in politics and promoting inclusive participation as Ghana approaches the 2027 local elections.
