Female representation on the boards of selected public and private institutions in Ghana has declined to 25.9% in 2026, falling below the 30% benchmark set for the year under the country’s Affirmative Action framework.
The finding is contained in the Women in Gh ana’s Boardrooms Report 2026 by Avance Media, which assessed 100 institutions and 895 board positions.
According to the report, women occupy 232 of the 895 board seats, compared with 235 out of 840 seats recorded in the 2023 edition.
This represents a decline in female board representation from 28% in 2023 to 25.9% in 2026.
The report says the latest figure places Ghana below the 30% target for 2026. It also indicates that the country remains at 25.9% against a 35% target for 2028 and a 50% target for 2034.
The decline is recorded despite an increase in the number of institutions assessed, from 84 in 2023 to 100 in 2026.
The report also identifies a significant gap between private and public institutions.
Private institutions recorded female representation of 32.27%, with women occupying 91 of 282 board seats. Public institutions, meanwhile, recorded 23%, with 141 women occupying 613 board positions.
The banking and financial services sector emerged as the largest contributor to female board leadership in the report, accounting for 40% of all women recognised in the ranking.
The report, however, notes that progress has not been uniform across institutions, with some recording substantial increases while others experienced significant declines.
It says the findings highlight the gap between Ghana’s current level of female board representation and the targets established under the Affirmative Action framework.
The report cautions that the figures are based on the 100 public and private institutions assessed for the 2026 ranking and should not be interpreted as a census of every board in Ghana.
By Eric Mawuena Egbeta
