SETTING THE AGENDA: WOMEN'S PRIORITIES FOR THE 2024 ELECTION

Despite constituting over half of Ghana's population, women remain significantly underrepresented in political leadership and decision-making, leading to the marginalization of their needs in policy, budgeting, and governance. A national consultation process identified key barriers including gender-based violence, restrictive cultural norms, poverty, and the failure to pass affirmative action legislation, all of which limit women's political and socio-economic participation. Women are disproportionately concentrated in low-income informal sectors, with limited access to finance, employment opportunities, and government support. Additional challenges include inadequate healthcare, poor sanitation, environmental degradation, and lack of basic services particularly in deprived communities. The findings highlight the urgent need for political parties to integrate women's priorities into policy frameworks and commit resources toward inclusive governance, economic empowerment, and improved social protection systems.