Assessment of Women Participation in Local Governance in the Kassena Nankana Municipality (KNM)

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the participation of women in the local governance of the
Kassena Nankana Municipality in the Upper East Region of Ghana, taking a specific look at
women participation in the municipal assembly, the existence of opportunities for women
participation, the challenges confronting women participation and also the strategies towards
addressing the situation. A case study of the Kassena-Nankana Municipality was undertaken
and a mixed research method employed. As such both probability and non-probability
sampling procedures were used. Specifically, a cluster sampling and purposive sampling
procedures were used to obtain 100 stakeholders from the municipality. Survey responses
from questionnaires administered to the stakeholders were quantitatively analysed. Key
informant interviews with key officers of the municipality were also carried out. It was found
that there is very low level of women participation in the local governance of the Kassena
Nankana Municipality. Further, not many opportunities have been created for women
participation except a few manifesto promises which were hardly fulfilled. There was
however the presence of some women activist groups in the municipality. Perceptions,
unfavourable political climate, and low level of education, amongst others were notable
factor affecting women participation in local governance.