Gender inequality in legislative representation: the case of women representation in Ghana’s Parliament

Women continue to experience political, social, and economic inequality around the world. Despite Ghana’s democratic credentials and varied encounters with elections, women have struggled to achieve greater legislative representation in eight consecutive electoral cycles. The situation of women legislative representation in Ghana contradicts the comparative analyses of elections, and the claim that women gain legislative strength with increasing experience obtained through consecutive electoral cycles. Using qualitative methodology, this paper examines gender inequality in legislative representation in Ghana and challenges to achieving equality. Based on a critical review of the literature on gender and politics, the paper draws insights and makes arguments from the critical mass theory. Findings from the study show that there are factors such as inadequate financial means, activities of political parties, and the nature of Ghana’s patriarchal society that account for the low representation of women in Ghana’s Parliament. More importantly are the absence of gender quota laws, and the electoral system that determines the allocation of seats in the legislature. The paper identified that affirmative action laws have achieved remarkable results in women legislative representation in other countries from which Ghana could learn.