Bolgatanga, March 10, 2026 – New research has warned that violence against women in politics remains a major obstacle to democratic participation in Ghana.
The research particularly pointed out that the violence was intense at the local governance level, especially as the country prepares for the 2027 district-level elections.
The findings were presented at a roundtable discussion organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ghana and the Nordic Africa Institute (NAI) in Accra, where researchers, policymakers, development partners and members of the diplomatic community examined the structural barriers limiting women’s participation in politics.
Presenting the research, Diana Højlund Madsen, Senior Researcher at NAI, said violence and intimidation against women in politics were systemic challenges that discouraged many from contesting political office.
She shared findings from the newly published book Making Politics Safer – Mitigating Violence against Women in Politics in Africa: Insights from Ghana, Kenya and Zimbabwe, which draws on 134 interviews with politically active women.
“In Ghana, only 4.1 per cent of district assembly members are women. If we want inclusive local governance, we must not only focus on bringing women into politics, but also examine the conditions under which they participate,” she said.
According to the study, women in politics frequently faced different forms of violence, including physical, psychological, sexual and economic intimidation, as well as harassment and moral accusations aimed at discouraging their political involvement.
The research noted that gendered electoral violence often includes sexualised harassment, threats against family members, online abuse and other tactics that reinforce male-dominated political systems.
While measures such as gender quotas and policy reforms have improved women’s representation in some contexts, the study emphasised that increasing numbers alone would not guarantee meaningful participation if political environments remained unsafe.
Complementing the comparative study, UNDP Ghana also presented findings from its work on women in local governance and peacebuilding, highlighting the experiences of women in northern Ghana.
The research documented both the challenges women face in participating in political decision-making and the resilience strategies they adopt to navigate leadership and peacebuilding spaces.
An assessment conducted by UNDP on the levels of women and youth participation in local governance and peacebuilding in selected districts in northern Ghana showed that, despite the country’s strong democratic reputation, participation of women and young people in local decision-making remained low.
The assessment referenced Ghana’s commitments to international frameworks including the Beijing Platform for Action, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
Addressing participants, Mr Jakob Linulf, Ambassador of Denmark to Ghana, stressed the importance of evidence-based policymaking and international collaboration in advancing gender equality.
He said women’s full participation in political, economic and social life was essential for sustainable development and democratic resilience.
Mr Niloy Banerjee, the UNDP Ghana Resident Representative also emphasised that violence against women in politics was not only a gender equality issue but a broader democratic governance concern.
“When women and young people are excluded, intimidated or silenced, the legitimacy, responsiveness and effectiveness of our institutions are weakened,” the Representative said.
Participants at the roundtable called for coordinated action among political parties, local authorities, election management bodies and civil society organisations to create safer and more inclusive political spaces for women.
The discussions formed part of the comparative research initiative Making Politics Safer – Gendered Violence and Electoral Temporalities in Africa, funded by the Swedish National Research Council, which provides policy recommendations to governments, political institutions and development partners.
The stakeholders said the findings offered important insights for policymakers and political actors as Ghana prepares for the 2027 local elections, and highlighted the need for reforms that would safeguard women’s participation and strengthen inclusive democracy.
Source: GNA