Conference: Increasing Women’s Political Presence in West Africa

Organizers: Interdisciplinary Fellow Group on “Increasing Women’s Political Presence in West Africa” (IFG 8)

Keynote address by Ayisha Osori (Open Society Foundation) on Women’s Political Power in West Africa and the Global Context of Democracy and its Discontents: The Nigeria Case

Programm

Abstract: In Africa, significant regional disparities in women’s presence in political office exist, with West Africa lagging behind East and Southern Africa. This is despite women’s substantial participation in politics in precolonial and colonial periods. Postcolonial West Africa experienced military rule and conflict, creating negative legacies but also some opportunities via disruptions to gender relations. Following democratic transitions in recent decades, the landscape has changed dramatically with Senegal adopting a gender parity law for the National Assembly, but other countries like Nigeria remaining at the bottom of women’s representation in parliament. Regardless of numerical representation in political offices across West Africa, women have significant political presence across the region with pre-independence precedents. This conference aims to investigate the history and possibilities across West Africa for women’s increased presence in politics, focusing on breakthroughs in political office, the political influence of women merchants, women building religious organizations and transatlantic alliances, as well as the life trajectories that cross these categories–moving from business and religion to political office and transnational organizing.

Press Releases:

• “MIASA Conference Empowers Women for Increased Political Presence in Africa”, University of Ghana article, 26th May 2023
• “Political architecture of political parties in Nigeria impedes women involvement – Aisha Osori”, Radio Univers, 20th May 2023
• “Monetisation of politics preventing African women from engaging in politics – Ayisha Osori”, Graphiconline, 19th May 2023
• “Ghana, other West African countries must demonetise politics to get more women involved – Ayisha Osori”, Modern Ghana, 17th May 2023
• “Ghana, other West African countries must demonetise politics to get more women involved – Ayisha Osori”, Daily Sun, 17th May 2023
• “Monetisation of politics impeding women’s Participation-Governance expert”, Ghana News Agency (GNA), 17th May 2023