Ghana

Population

• Total Population: Approximately 33 million (as of 2024)
• Gender Distribution: 50.7% female, 49.3% male
• Youth Population: About 57% under the age of 25
• Urban vs Rural Distribution: 57% urban, 43% rural

Economic Landscape

• GDP: $75 billion (2023 estimate)
• Key Industries: Gold mining, Cocoa production, Oil and Gas
• Women in Workforce: Approximately 50%, with significant participation in agriculture and services
• Gender Pay Gap: Women earn on average 22% less than men

Challenges: Access to credit, informal sector dominance, economic inequalities

Political Landscape

• Women’s Representation in Leadership:
  • Parliament: 14.6%
  • Local Government Leadership: Approximately 7% of district assembly members are women
• Challenges: Cultural barriers, political intimidation, inadequate policy enforcement
• Key Policies Promoting Gender Equality:
  • National Gender Policy
  • Affirmative Action Bill (pending)

• Social and Cultural Context

  • Gender Norms and Cultural Attitudes:
    • Patriarchal structures dominate many communities
    • Women are primarily responsible for household duties
  • Traditional Barriers:
    • Early marriages and childbearing
    • Gender-based violence
    • Limited inheritance and property ownership rights for women

• Gender Index Rankings

  • Global Gender Gap Index (2023): Ranked 135th out of 146 countries
  • Human Development Index (2023): 0.611 (Medium human development)
  • Women’s Empowerment Index: Moderate improvement in literacy and political participation

  Challenges Identified: Low financial inclusion for women, high maternal mortality rates, gender-based violence prevalence