Participation without a voice? Rural women’s experiences and participation in local governance activities in the Abura–Asebu–Kwamankese district of Ghana

This paper reports on a study conducted to explore rural women’s experiences and participation in local governance activities in the Abura–Asebu–Kwamankese district of Ghana. Using a qualitative case study design, the study collected data from 53 women with different socio-economic backgrounds in focus group discussions and interview sessions. The study results show that while women are as likely as men to be engaged in local governance activities, they are less likely to be recruited into key decision-making roles. Women’s participation is linked more to physical presence during local governance activities without much power to influence and control decisions. The study found that women want to be more empowered through their formal and “political” education in order to increase their levels of assertiveness and confidence to enable them assume key decision-making roles during their participation in local governance activities. Also, government must enforce strictly the implementation of the quota system to increase women’s appointments into the district assemblies. Finally, the local government elections should be regulated to adhere to its non-partisan nature in order to stimulate more women’s interest and participation.