The University of Ghana's first female graduate, Elizabeth Frances Sey, earned her degree in 1953, barely five years after the institution's founding. Yet, it took 70 years for a woman to become president of the same university that had been graduating women for 65 years.
On the student front, it took 59 years after the University's founding for a woman to be chosen as the president of the Students Representative Council. Even though one of those positions was held temporarily, two more have since taken it.
The lack of women from influential positions within and outside of the University for many years is proof of the subtly patriarchal structure of Ghanaian society. For instance, there are just 35 female MPs in the 275-member Parliament. This percentage barely accounts for 12.75 percent of the total Parliament.
There has been a notable turnabout in Ghana's somewhat unequal attitude on representation and decision-making over the course of the last ten or so years. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare was the first female chief of staff, Justice Rtd. Georgina Theodora Wood was the first female speaker of parliament, Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo was the first female speaker of parliament, and many other influential women were the first women to hold these positions.
In many fields, there are attempts being undertaken to increase the number of women in leadership positions. Women are actively encouraged to participate in politics, corporate leadership, athletics, and other spheres of public life.
Affirmative action was used at the University of Ghana to enhance female enrollment, particularly in fields and staff posts that are dominated by men. Even before a recent research on gender inequities in Ghana's tertiary education system was published, the University has been actively mentoring young female academics and staff members as part of a major plan. by Sascovibesgh
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