Address gender disparities in MMDCE appointments — Advocacy group

The Ghana Chapter of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) Working Group on Women, Youth, Peace and Security has expressed concern about the alarming underrepresentation of women in the nominations and appointments of Municipal, Metropolitan and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) across the country.

In a statement signed by the Convener of the Ghana Chapter, Theodora Williams-Anti, it said the current situation of women constituting less than 10 per cent of appointed MMDCEs was unacceptable.

It said despite ongoing advocacy and the government's stated commitment to affirmative action, the current appointments reveal a troubling gender imbalance that undermines progress toward gender equity in governance, particularly under the Mahama administration.

So far, 152 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives in nine regions have been named with 109 positions yet to be filled and women form just about 10 per cent with some having their confirmations still pending.

It said the current data on the MMDCEs underscores the significant underrepresentation of women, with several regions failing to nominate even a single woman, saying such an imbalance undermined the country’s democratic principles and jeopardises the nation's progress toward equitable governance.

 A call for accountability

According to the Ghana Chapter of UNOWAS Working Group on Women, Youth, Peace and Security, the current nominations blatantly disregard Section 16 (1), (2) and (4) of the Affirmative Action Law, which mandates progressive gender balance in governance institutions and public service appointments, and which specifically mandates the President to ensure that gender equity targets are met in appointments to ministerial positions, district assemblies and other governance bodies and also calls on public institutions to report annually on their progress toward gender equity.

The observed underrepresentation, it said, contravenes these provisions and undermines efforts to achieve sustainable development, peace and stability through inclusive governance, saying this non-compliance not only breaches legal obligations but also perpetuates systemic barriers to women's participation in decision-making roles.

Recommendations for immediate action

To address this urgent issue, the Ghana Chapter proposed an emergency review and reform of nomination processes by conducting an immediate and independent audit of the shortlisting mechanisms to identify systemic barriers preventing women from being nominated.

Implement Affirmative Action measures by enforcing gender quotas to ensure at least 30 per cent female representation in MMDCE positions before confirmations.

They also called for an accountability task force to establish a high-level, multi-stakeholder task force to oversee compliance with affirmative action mandates and report directly to the President.

Establish monitoring mechanisms by developing robust systems to track gender equity progress and hold institutions accountable for compliance with affirmative action guidelines.

The group also called for a public awareness campaign to initiate a national campaign to highlight the critical importance of women's leadership in local governance.

Accelerated capacity building for women to launch an intensive, nationwide programme to prepare women for leadership roles, particularly in regions with zero female nominations.

Collaborate with women's groups such as the UNOWAS Working Group on Women, Youth, Peace and Security to provide training programmes that enhance skills and competitiveness for leadership roles.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the group said the severe underrepresentation of women in MMDCE nominations is not merely a gender issue but a governance crisis that threatens the country's democratic foundations and development goals.

It said immediate, decisive action was imperative to rectify this imbalance and ensure that women's voices were heard at all levels of governance, adding that the persistent exclusion of women from leadership roles was not only a betrayal of trust but also a waste of their immense talent and contributions.

It urged the government to act decisively to rectify this imbalance by adhering to affirmative action mandates and fostering inclusive governance structures, saying this matter deserves utmost urgency.

It said the UNOWAS Working Group stands ready to provide any necessary support to facilitate rapid and meaningful change through advocacy, capacity-building initiatives and monitoring frameworks