Contemporary Expressions of Populism for Gender Equality in Ghana

Populist expressions create spaces to enhance fair representation in decision-making positions and gender equality in political positions. This study aims at creating awareness about populism, gender equality and women political representation and empowerment. It seeks to sensitise Ghanaians about the need to facilitate the participation of women in local and national governments. The study used secondary data sources and employed desk stop analysis to analyse populist expressions that geared towards equality in the Ghanaian society. The results show that populist mobilisation has been appealing to ‘the people’ against the government (‘the elite’), because governments, politicians and political parties have paid lip services to the world’s agendas for gender equality. The study shows that populists’ expressions have been impactful in improving women’s consciousness to empower themselves politically. Populists’ styles and activism as expressed in the media, and women’s efforts to win support from the electorate are creating awareness for equity in the Ghanaian political society. The implications are that the populists’ appeal to the people against the governments supports the recognition of gender equality, and the appointment of more women into political positions as well as the sensitisation of the abolition of discrimination in the Ghanaian society to empower women.