Engaging women in community decision-making processes in rural Ghana: problems and prospects
Opare, S.
Development in Practice 15(1): 90-99
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0961-4524 DOI: 10.1080/0961452052000321631Document Number: 556945
This paper discusses women's lack of access to effective decision-making opportunities in community-based organizations and other local structures using evidence from small, mainly rural, communities in Ghana. The main argument is that this lack of an effective voice in community affairs constitutes a serious obstacle to women's socioeconomic advancement. The analysis focuses on two main variables: (1) the leadership positions women occupy in local development-oriented committees and other decision-making structures; and (2) the nature of roles and responsibilities assigned to the very few women who are elected as leaders because these demonstrate the clout, authority, and responsibility that women command in such roles. It is indicated that the inability of women to assume leadership positions in rural communities could be attributed to a number of factors, including: (1) the sociocultural belief that men are the natural leaders both in the household and the wider community, and that women are only there to support them; (2) the low educational levels of women; and (3) women's marital status.