A new report by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has revealed that the Greater Accra and Bono regions are tied for first place as the highest-ranked regions for women’s status.
Detailed findings, set to be published in the upcoming Status of Women in Ghana Report, highlight key disparities in gender equality and female empowerment across the country.
The report, based on data from the 2008, 2014, and 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Surveys (GDHS), examines seven indicators of women’s well-being, including education, decision-making power, and healthcare access.
According to GSS, the Savannah Region ranked the lowest overall in female empowerment, recording the lowest scores in three key indicators—secondary education, intimate partner violence, and teenage childbearing. The North East Region also ranked poorly, placing last in informed decision-making and child marriage.
Greater Accra emerged as the only region to top multiple indicators, ranking first in secondary education, informed decision-making, child marriage, and teenage childbearing. These findings stresses the significant regional disparities in gender equality, reinforcing the need for targeted interventions to improve conditions for women in underserved areas.
The report also highlights persistent gender gaps in education and health, with some regions showing alarmingly high disparities between men and women.
The North East Region, for instance, recorded a 17.4 percentage-point gap in secondary education, while the Ashanti Region showed the largest sex disparity in overweight and obesity rates at 36.1 percentage points.
In terms of child marriage, the North East Region had the highest disparity at 23.2 percentage points, whereas Greater Accra reported the lowest gap at 9.5 percentage points. These statistics paint a clear picture of the inequalities that persist, despite efforts to promote gender parity in the country.
With the 2025 International Women’s Day theme, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” the GSS findings serve as a crucial reminder of the work still needed to bridge the gender gap in Ghana. The full Status of Women in Ghana Report is expected to be released later this month, providing a more detailed breakdown of regional performance and policy recommendations. As the nation reflects on the progress made toward gender equality, stakeholders are encouraged to use these insights to drive policy actions that uplift women and girls, particularly in regions lagging behind in key development indicators.
