Engaging women in community decision-making processes in rural Ghana: Problems and prospects

Representative Bureaucracy in the Public Service? A Critical Analysis of the Challenges Confronting Women in the Civil Service of Ghana

“…From this perspective, women were and, in some cases, are still considered inferior to men, and were and are encouraged to take charge of the home while the men attend school. Although women's right to work was fully recognized in traditional society through customary laws, this right was thus limited to domestic chores, which limitation continued to undermine their ability to gain formal sector employment (Greenstreet, 1972;Manuh, 1994;Opare, 2005). In this environment women are effectively under the control or authority of men for much of their lives, although they may gain in status and influence with age.…”

“…Women's decision-making role is thus constrained in both private and public spheres. Where women do exercise power in the traditional arrangement, however, it is largely in parallel structures or by influencing male authorities (Brydon, 1996;Müller, 2006;Opare, 2005;Oppong et al, 1975;Pellow, 1977a).…”

“…Much of the meager research exploring the issue of representativeness in the Ghanaian public bureaucracy is, specifically, about women and political representation (Bawa & Sanyare, 2013;Ofei-Aboagye, 2004;Opare, 2005). This article contains information important for interrogating the dynamics at play in Ghana's public administration system and to help us locate minorities and assess their significance.…”

Sustaining water supply through a phased community management approach: lessons from Ghana’s “oats” water supply scheme

“…In accordance with guidelines of the project at least one-third of the members were females. Mandatory female membership of WATSAN committees was an effort to redress skewed gender composition of community decision-making institutions since though women were the main users of water, they were frequently excluded from decision-making on water activities and local development schemes due to ingrained cultural biases and local perceptions on their gender (Dotse and Laryea 1995;Opare 2005; Ricerca e Cooperazione 2004). The Water Board which had 12 members was the lead organization with overall responsibility for the management of the water supply system.…”

Gender leadership in Cape Coast Municipality primary schools

“…Decision-making in the Ghanaian context is a male prerogative even though the 1992 Constitution of Ghana recognizes equality of all persons before the law and prohibits discrimination on the grounds of sex, religion and ethnicity. Yet, women continue to be discriminated against in all sectors of society (Opare 2005, Tanye 2008). Ghanaian media often perpetuates stereotypes by representing males as superior, assertive, unemotional, powerful and controlling, while females are presented as passive, fragile and emotional.…”