A history of women in politics in Ghana (1957-1992)

Abstract

The making of conscious efforts to include women in political decision making at all levels has come to be seen as an integral part of development in contemporary times. Though this is not an absolutely new phenomenon. the last quarter of the twentieth century which began with the declaration of 1975 as the International Year of Women marked a watershed in the collectivization of hitherto singular efforts at women's empowerment. The United Nations and other gender-sensitive Non Governmental Organisations were key in this drive. Though this work has not made a single suggestion as to the way forward, it stands to be considered a part of this clarion call for women's empowerment for it traces how far women have come in all the efforts they have made in the post-colonial politics of Ghana. This work seeks to erase the conception widely held, even by academics, that women in Ghana have not played any meaningful political role. To do this, this work has traced the political history of Ghana in the post-colonial era and within this broader picture, highlighted women where their roles were felt. Though emphasis, as far as this work is concerned, is on the post-colonial period, a chapter has been devoted to an overview of the situation prior to independence. One sub-theme which has also been treated because of its connection with politics is women's mass movements. The most accommodating regimes for women as far as access, participation, influence and impact are concerned were the regimes of Nkrumah and Rawlings' Provisional National Defence Council. In these regimes, the impact of women was felt both in the women's mass movements and the governments. In between these two regimes, one sees a nearly apolitical situation with women struggling to make a contribution both to the economic and political life of the country even where they were clearly unrecognized and unappreciated.