Ghana’s gender gap index shows slow progress as country ranks 88th
By: Raphael Nii Trebi Hammond
Ghana has once again placed 88th in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Gender Gap Index for 2025, reflecting a concerning stagnation in the country’s progress toward gender parity.
Despite a marginal increase in its overall score, from 0.701 in 2024 to 0.703 this year, Ghana has failed to advance in the global rankings.
The Global Gender Gap Index evaluates 148 countries based on their performance across four key dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment. Scores range from 0 (total inequality) to 1 (complete equality).
Gains in Economic Participation, Setbacks Elsewhere
Ghana’s most notable advancement came in Economic Participation and Opportunity, where it climbed from 30th position in 2024 to 22nd in 2025. This suggests that more women are entering the workforce and gaining access to economic opportunities.
However, this progress is overshadowed by persistent underperformance in other areas, particularly Political Empowerment. Ghana remains at 119th in this category, with an unchanged score of 0.105, highlighting the continued underrepresentation of women in national leadership roles and political decision-making.
Declines in Health and Education
The country also experienced setbacks in Health and Survival, dropping from 36th to 61st, even though the score remained relatively strong at 0.972. Similarly, Ghana slipped from 103rd to 108th in Educational Attainment, with its score stagnant at 0.972. These declines suggest that while Ghana maintains moderate parity, other countries are improving at a faster pace.
Call for Renewed Commitment
The WEF report paints a picture of a country that has made gains in specific sectors but has yet to translate those into broader gender equity. Analysts warn that unless deliberate policy shifts are made, Ghana risks falling further behind on the global stage.
Civil society organizations, policymakers, and development agencies are therefore being urged to prioritize gender-responsive planning and leadership development. Ensuring women’s representation at all levels of governance, improving access to quality education, and strengthening health systems are seen as essential steps toward real progress.
