Ghana finds itself grappling with persistent gender disparities, as revealed by the recently published 2022 Global Gender Gap Index.
Placed at 108th out of 146 countries, Ghana’s ranking highlights the uphill battle it faces in achieving gender equality.
Among Sub-Saharan African neighbors, Ghana ranked 21 out of 36, ranking below the top half. Rwanda, Namibia and South Africa ranked 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively within the sub-region.
While the score of 0.672 reflects ongoing challenges, there is a glimmer of hope as the country has made progress from its previous rank of 117 in 2021. The report, compiled by the World Economic Forum, sheds light on the critical areas where Ghana struggles the most.
The Global Gender Gap Index employs a scoring system ranging from 0 to 1, where 0 represents complete inequality and 1 signifies perfect parity. Evaluating Ghana’s performance across four key criteria, significant disparities emerge.
In Political Empowerment, Ghana faces a wide gender gap, receiving a discouraging score of 0.135 with a rank of 105. This underlines the urgent need for greater female representation and influence in the political sphere.
Ghana scored 0.608 for Economic Participation and Opportunity, indicating that women still encounter barriers when it comes to accessing equal economic opportunities. It ranked 108 here.
On a more positive note, Ghana scored 0.968 with a ranking of 104 in Educational Attainment, showcasing significant strides in providing equal access to education for both genders. This underscores the nation’s commitment to nurturing a knowledgeable and skilled workforce.
In terms of Health and Survival, Ghana achieved an impressive score of 0.978, securing a ranking of 40. This signifies commendable progress in ensuring equal access to healthcare and safeguarding the well-being of its citizens, irrespective of gender.
While Ghana grapples with gender disparities, the upward shift in its ranking reflects the nation’s positive strides to address these challenges.
