Women constitute more than half of Ghana’s population (51.2%). Without their participation in the public discourse or decision making process, it would be difficult for Ghana to achieve sustainable development. Unfortunately, their participation at all levels of decision making is very low. This can be attributed to patriarchy or male dominance which is a key aspect of the Ghanaian social system.
However, Women’s participation also in politics in Ghana is low, both at local and the national level. This reflects the global trend of women’s participation in politics. Following this trend, Kwame Afrifa-Mensah host of Happy FM’s Epa Hoa Daben show, who is also the Oyokohene of Asante-Agona of the Agona Traditional council has called on Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs Cynthia Morrison and Hajia Alima Mahama, minister of Local Government and Rural Development to encourage women participation in the upcoming District Assembly elections.
According to Afrifa-Mensah, Culturally women have been made to lay back for centuries, So if we want them to participate in political leadership, it’s not just a word of mouth but rather pragmatic steps and political policy to change them psychologically.
He also revealed that, a research from the Aya Institute for Women, Politics and Media, the Last District Level elections, over 18,000 men as against a little over 1000 females stood. This Afrifa-Mensah describes as unfair and therefore there must be a policy to encourage in our decision making level.