NETRIGHT bemoans low women participation in political decision making

 Women in Ghana continue to face major challenges in politi­cal participation despite election progress made so far, the national consultative forum held in Accra has revealed.

The forum organised by NETRIGHT in partnership with STAR-Ghana Foundation was to review the 2024 elections and push for gender-responsive governance and inclusive democracy.

It brought together stakeholders from the political parties, civil soci­ety groups, youth organisations, the media, and development partners.

The Programme Manager at NETRIGHT, Ms Cynthia Sunu, noted that while Ghana has a strong reputation for holding peaceful elections, the reality of women’s representation in gover­nance remains worrying.

According to her the election also marked a historic moment with the swearing-in of Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as Ghana’s first female Vice Presi­dent.

Ms Sunu however, said the achievement, while significant, does not reflect a wider shift in women’s political inclusion, stress­ing that “Out of 276 parliamentary seats, only 39 are held by women, representing just 14.1 per cent.”

She also added that ministerial and top leadership positions were still heavily male-dominated despite the passage of the Affirmative Action Act, 2024 (Act 1121), which was applied for the first time in this election.

In addition, Ms Sunu pointed to long-standing barriers such as socio-cultural norms, limited political financing for women, and gender bias within political parties as some of the reasons for this poor representation.

Beyond gender gaps, she men­tioned voter suppression, misinfor­mation, and the opaque nature of political party financing.

Ms Sunu stressed the need for reforms that promote account­ability, transparency, and inclusion in both electoral and governance systems.

She also called for increased civic education, financial support for female candidates, and the active inclusion of young people and excluded groups in political leadership.

A representative from STAR-Ghana Foundation, Ms Feruza Salisu, said the post-election period provides an opportunity to evaluate what worked, what did not work and what must be improved before the next elections.

She called on citizens and civil society to keep pushing elected leaders to deliver on their campaign promises and uphold democratic values.

Ms Salisu said an inclusive de­mocracy was not only about elec­tions but also about making sure all citizens regardless of gender or background had a voice in how the country was run.

The event offered a platform for open dialogue, allowing par­ticipants to reflect on the election process, identify gaps, and make recommendations for reforms.

Participants emphasised the need for stronger political will to implement policies that ensure fair representation.

 BY AGNES OPOKU

SARPONG

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