Ansah Urges Systemic Changes to Boost Women’s Political Inclusion Across Africa

Vice President Jane Mayemu Ansah has advocated for sweeping reforms of electoral systems, party structures and campaign finance to ensure women have a genuine opportunity to pursue political leadership throughout Africa.

During a virtual address at the inaugural High-Level Annual Conference on Gender and Elections in Africa, held in Johannesburg on October 29, 2026, Ansah emphasized that democracy should be evaluated not just by election results but by the extent to which women can run for office, campaign without fear, and hold leadership roles.

She identified key obstacles to women’s political engagement, such as unequal access to campaign resources, biased candidate selection mechanisms, and violence against women in politics—ranging from online harassment to gender‑based disinformation.

Ansah called on governments, political parties and electoral management bodies to implement concrete measures that promote gender equality, stressing that women’s political involvement must be underpinned by fair rules, sufficient resources and accountable institutions.

“Africa must move beyond declarations and translate its commitments into measurable action,” Ansah remarked.

She noted that inclusive political participation enhances electoral integrity, bolsters public confidence and strengthens democratic governance across the continent.

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