Accra, Feb. 14, 2025 – STAR-Ghana Foundation and its civil society partners have called on the government to ensure a minimum of 30 per cent women’s representation in the appointment of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
While commending the government for its efforts in appointing women to ministerial and public agency positions, the group expressed concern over the near absence of women in vetted lists for local government roles.
According to the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization, and Rural Development, women currently hold less than 18 per cent of leadership positions at the district level, a figure far below the national and international commitments to gender equality.
The Ghana Statistical Service further reports that only 26 out of 86 government-appointed leadership roles are occupied by women.
Despite the open application process, some regions, such as the Upper West, have reportedly excluded women entirely from their vetted lists for MMDCE positions.
The civil society organizations, in a joint signed statement, argued that achieving at least 30 per cent representation was not only a constitutional obligation but also a necessary step toward inclusive governance and sustainable development.
They urged President John Dramani Mahama to demonstrate political will in fulfilling this commitment, ensuring that women, including youth and persons with disabilities, were adequately represented in decision-making at the local government level.
The call comes in response to the underrepresentation of women in local governance, despite the government’s broader commitment to gender equality.
STAR-Ghana and the Civil Society partners commended the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration for appointing women to key ministerial and public positions.
As of February 5, 2025, women hold 28 out of 105 appointments, representing 26.6 per cent.
These include four ministerial positions, seven appointments to state agencies such as the Youth Employment Agency and and three regional ministerial roles.
Therefore, STAR-Ghana and its partners urged CSOs to amplify advocacy efforts, the media to spotlight the urgency of the issue, and the Ghanaian public to actively support policies that promoted women’s full participation in governance.
GNA