In Ghana, the recent push for a gender equality bill is a crucial step toward enhancing women’s political representation. However, its effectiveness hinges on overcoming entrenched gender biases and ensuring robust implementation to truly transform the political landscape. 

On 30 July, Ghana’s parliament passed the Affirmative Action (Gender Equality) Bill, ending a process that began in 1998. Despite women constituting the majority of Ghana’s population, they hold less than 15 percent of parliamentary seats and remain underrepresented in managerial roles, even though they represent a majority in the service sector. The passage of the bill represents remarkable progress towards enhancing gender equality and inclusivity in the country and thus rightfully deserves all the attention it has garnered.

Additionally, this legislative milestone is especially significant for a country that has consistently ranked low on the Global Gender Gap Index in recent times. For example, in 2021, Ghana ranked 117 out of 156 countries; in 2022, 108 out of 146 countries; and in 2023, 100 out of 146 countries. What are the potential challenges that could impede the successful implementation of the bill (when it becomes law), and what are the prospects for this legislation in advancing gender equality and inclusivity in Ghana?

Women in politics: a global picture

Globally, we have seen a remarkable increase in the representation of women in mainstream politics in recent times. Data from UN Women indicates that as of 1 June 2024, 28 women serve as Heads of State and/or Government across 27 countries. Currently, only 18 countries have a woman as Head of State, and 15 countries have a woman as Head of Government. Women occupy 36 percent of parliamentary seats in Latin America and the Caribbean, and constitute 33 percent of parliamentarians in Europe and Northern America. In sub-Saharan Africa, women make up 27 percent of legislators, followed by 23 percent in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, 20 percent in Oceania, and 18 percent in both Central and Southern Asia, and Northern Africa and Western Asia, where women represent 18 percent of members of parliament. Rwanda tops the world in female political representation, with women holding 61 percent of parliamentary seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 37 percent in the Senate.

Despite these advancements, progress remains limited and uneven. Only in a handful of countries do women comprise roughly half of all parliamentarians. In many nations, women make up only a small minority of parliamentarians, and in some, there are no female representatives in government at all (e.g., Yemen). Furthermore, some evidence shows that policy areas such as economic affairs, defence, justice, and home affairs remain largely controlled by men, while women ministers are primarily assigned to lead portfolios related to women and gender equality, family and child welfare, social affairs, and indigenous and minority issues.

Affirmative action and gender equality

Affirmative action particularly in the form of gender quotas have been identified as “one of the most effective strategies for increasing the number of women in parliament.” While the significant growth in women representation globally has been partly attributed to such legislated quotas, the broader evidence on the effects of quotas is mixed. In some cases, quota-implementing countries have seen a notable decline in women’s parliamentary representation, whereas in others without legislated quotes like Mozambique and Sudan, significant progress has been made. Research on the African context indicates that deeply rooted patriarchal systems, entrenched cultural norms, and corruption can present substantial barriers to achieving gender parity and representation, even in the presence of gender quotas. This underscores the difficulty of translating legislative measures into tangible outcomes.

Ghana’s gender equality bill

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step; the passage of Ghana’s gender equality bill may be that critical first step toward achieving greater equality and inclusivity. However, the mere passage of gender equality legislation (contingent upon the president’s approval) does not guarantee effective implementation. While laws can be enacted, key stakeholders like political parties may find ways to circumvent them. Research on quota implementation has shown evidence of discriminatory tactics, such as altering the order of party lists to favour male candidates or nominating female candidates in districts where they have little chance of winning. Additionally, evidence suggests that the degree of political corruption can negatively impact the prospects of women. This suggests that Ghana’s pursuit of gender equality is likely to be challenged unless broader contextual factors, such as gender-biased political structures, are adequately addressed. This reflects the concerns of some scholars who point out that “It is […] difficult to argue that gender considerations play a massive role or hold massive sway in the Ghanaian political space.”

Given the dominance of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Ghanaian politics, a bipartisan approach and commitment are essential for the successful implementation of the proposed bill. Historical evidence suggests that political will from both major parties can lead to tangible outcomes. For instance, both parties have previously employed “unconventional approaches,” such as women succession politics, to increase female representation in parliament. This strategy involves nominating the widow of a deceased Member of parliament or parliamentary candidate to run in the subsequent election. Furthermore, both parties have introduced reduced nomination fees and financial subsidies to support women candidates in overcoming economic obstacles, although these efforts to date have proven insufficient.

While many civil society organizations (CSOs) and women groups deserve praise for their vigorous advocacy for the passage of the bill, the true challenge lies in ensuring that the bill delivers meaningful change once enacted. These groups must elevate the discourse beyond descriptive representation to substantive representation, emphasising concrete improvements in women’s status and well-being.

Increased women’s representation in government is expected to lead to policies that address women’s challenges, aligning with constitutional and international mandates or a more inclusive society. Emerging research shows that women’s empowerment improves policy representation, economic growth, and health outcomes. However, some studies warn that women’s representation may be used as “window-dressing” to attract voters or appear progressive to the international community. As Ghana advances its Affirmative Action (Gender Equality) Bill, there is broad hope that the proposed “Gender Equality Committee” will effectively ensure compliance with the act.

We hope that once the Bill becomes law, it will not be merely symbolic or “a law without teeth,” but rather one that effectively enforces change and “bites” with real impact.

Dr Ernest Mensah Akuamoah is a Sessional Academic in the School of Politics and International Relations at The Australian National University. His research interests include electoral violence and African politics. He can be reached via email at Ernest.akuamoah@anu.edu.au

Baffour Agyeman Prempeh Boakye, PhD Student, Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of Delaware. His research interests include African politics and democracy. He can be reached via baffour@udel.edu

This article is published under a Creative Commons License and may be republished with attribution.