For Better for Worse Even After Death: Is ‘Widow Politics’ in Ghana’s Fourth Republic Becoming a Reliable Pathway for Women?
Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SAGE
Abstract
The quest to bridge the gender disparity in the politics of Ghana has seen little progress owing to the
challenges associated with the passage of the Affirmative Action bill by the actors involved. However, the
recent emergence and unconventional adoption of ‘widow succession’ politics in Ghana have sparked some
public debates into the viability of the practice in the promotion of women in politics. This paper examined
all five identified cases of widow politics in Ghana between 2000 and 2020 (Asutifi South, Shai Osudoku,
Ayawaso West Wuogon, Mfantseman and Tempane constituencies) and draws on the widow effect and
affirmative action concepts to propose lessons and the possible implication of the practice in Ghana.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Widow politics, affirmative action, widow effect, parliament, sympathy vote