Fourteen of the 65 candidates vying for parliamentary seats in the 2024 elections in the Central Region are women.

Comprising 21 percent of the total candidates, the women are competing in 10 out of the 23 constituencies in the region.

Central Region, considered a swing region, has a voter population of 1,752,165 in the upcoming 2024 election, marking a notable increase from 1,568,342 in 2020, signifying a growth rate of 11.72 percent.

The general populace in the area totals 2,605,49237 people, with 1,323,494 being females, accounting for approximately 50.8 percent.

Among the female contenders is a 50-year-old former security officer, Ophelia Mensah Hayford, seeking re-election for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Mfantseman.

Madam Naana Eyiah Quansah, aged 61 and an expert in project management, is representing the NPP in Gomoa Central, while Madam Grace Ignophia Appiah, a 68-year-old, is for the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) in the same constituency.

In Effutu, Madam Louisa Boaben, 36, a Social Worker, is running independently, and the incumbent MP for Awutu Senya West, Madam Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui, aged 53, an Architect, seeks re-election.

Mavis Hawa Koomson, a 58-year-old serial contender for Awutu Senya East with a Masters in Public Administration, is facing it off against her 2020 contender, Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, a 43-year-old Social Worker.

Representing the NDC in the Agona West constituency is Ernestina Ofori Dangbey, a 39-year-old Network Engineer, who is competing against the incumbent, Cynthia Mamle Morrison, 60, an Educationist specialising in Montessori education.

Madam Hannah Asamoah, a 39-year-old Teacher representing the NPP, is challenging the incumbent NDC MP, Madam Queenster Pokuah Sawyer, aged 60 and an administrator by profession.

In the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa constituency, the NPP is represented by Madam Winifred Baidoo-Ayin, 42, a Chartered Accountant by profession, while Madam Precious Mawulum Amevor, aged 27 and a teacher, is running for the Ghana Union Movement (GUM) in the same constituency.

Madam Adowa Donkoh, aged 56 and a Herbal Medicine Manufacturer, is representing GUM in Twifo Atti-Morkwa, and she is competing against a 48-year-old lawyer, Madam Emelia Ankomah, who is running on the ticket of the NDC.

Regarding age distribution, Madam Ignophia, aged 68 in Gomoa Central, is the oldest female candidate, while Madam Amevor, aged 27, is the youngest.

The NPP and NDC have an equal number of female candidates, with five each, while GUM has two and two independent candidates.

Despite this representation, women face significant barriers to political participation, including socio-economic challenges like low income and limited access to resources, which hinder their involvement in local governance.

Efforts to enhance women’s political empowerment are ongoing, but progress remains slow as female representation in local assemblies increased marginally from 14 percent to 15 percent from 2016 to 2024.