Wits School of Governance (ETDs)

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Browsing Wits School of Governance (ETDs) by Author "Brooks, Heidi"

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    A developmental approach to gender mainstreaming: women and political spaces in Ghanaian government
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Sosu-Awusanya, Ruth Dzigbordi; Brooks, Heidi
    In an increasingly global world with greater awareness of the role of gender inclusivity, there is also increased awareness of the role and value of women’s participation in institutions of government. Ghana is no exception. However, despite efforts and policies in Ghana to facilitate women’s inclusion, it is apparent that women are still not participating in their numbers within government spaces. The research dissertation asks to what extent gender mainstreaming can play a role in facilitating effective participation of women in Ghana’s local government. Through semi-structured interviews and literature analysis, this research report explores the institutional barriers to women’s participation and contribution in local government in Ghana. The study finds that there have been some inclusive policies to ensure that women are better represented in politics. However, these are met with various setbacks resulting from Ghana’s wider social and cultural norms and values. These factors manifest in the local government space in institutional barriers that play a role in inhibiting women from participating effectively. The study finds that gender mainstreaming can play a role in addressing those barriers and encouraging more women to participate in the local government but there remain challenges to their effectiveness