The Representation of Women in African Legislatures and Cabinets: An Examination with Reference to Ghana

Why do some countries with low levels of women’s legislative representation have high levels of women’s cabinet representation? We focus on sub-Saharan Africa to show that countries with high levels of women’s legislative representation do not necessarily have high levels of women’s cabinet representation and discuss how legislative laggards can emerge as cabinet leaders through a case study of Ghana. We argue that three factors—a conducive institutional environment, an international context stressing gender-balanced decision making, and an autonomous domestic women’s movement—promote women’s incorporation into cabinets, even when pathways to legislative incorporation remain blocked.