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Questions and Answers
What is a key element of women's enjoyment of their citizenship?
What is a key element of women's enjoyment of their citizenship?
What was the result of the government overthrow in 1966?
What was the result of the government overthrow in 1966?
What was the name of the women's organization led by Mrs Rawlings?
What was the name of the women's organization led by Mrs Rawlings?
What was the impact of the Dominance of the 31st December Women's Movement on independent women's organizations?
What was the impact of the Dominance of the 31st December Women's Movement on independent women's organizations?
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What was the name of the national machinery for women?
What was the name of the national machinery for women?
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What was the impact of political instability and repression on women's movements?
What was the impact of political instability and repression on women's movements?
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What was the period of time during which there was a gap in national organizing?
What was the period of time during which there was a gap in national organizing?
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What was the name of the party to which the National Council of Ghana Women was an integral part?
What was the name of the party to which the National Council of Ghana Women was an integral part?
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What has resulted from 30 years of economic liberalization and transformation of policymaking culture?
What has resulted from 30 years of economic liberalization and transformation of policymaking culture?
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What is a challenge faced by women's movements around the world since the 1990s?
What is a challenge faced by women's movements around the world since the 1990s?
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What is a characteristic of NGOs that hinders their ability to create sustained change?
What is a characteristic of NGOs that hinders their ability to create sustained change?
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What has been identified as a key factor in the lack of progress on women's rights globally?
What has been identified as a key factor in the lack of progress on women's rights globally?
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What is a result of NGO-ization on women's movements?
What is a result of NGO-ization on women's movements?
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What do NGOs often prioritize over politics?
What do NGOs often prioritize over politics?
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What is a limitation of NGO-ization according to the text?
What is a limitation of NGO-ization according to the text?
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What is the effect of NGO-ization on civil society and mass movements?
What is the effect of NGO-ization on civil society and mass movements?
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Study Notes
Women's Organizing in Ghana
- Women's ability to organize for collective action, influence policy changes, and enjoy citizenship rights are interconnected.
- Women's organizing in Ghana has a long history, dating back to the colonial period, with initial efforts to establish associations promoting women's interests.
Post-Independence Period
- Two national organizations were formed in the post-independence period, which later merged to form the National Council of Ghana Women.
- The National Council was an integral part of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) but was disbanded when the government was overthrown in 1966.
1966-1980s
- A gap in national organizing occurred, with local women's welfare groups emerging in the absence of a national organization.
- In the early 1980s, political conditions led to the establishment of new national women's organizations, including the Federation of Ghana Women and the 31st December Women's Movement (DWM).
1980s-1990s
- The DWM, led by Mrs. Rawlings, dominated the women's organizing landscape, enjoying close relations with state institutions and donor agencies.
- Independent women's organizations were squeezed out of the public arena and alienated from the national machinery for women, the National Council on Women and Development (NCWD).
Challenges to Women's Organizing
- Political instability, repression of mass movements, and economic liberalization have damaged efforts to build a strong civil society base for women.
- Close to 30 years of economic liberalization have created the need for small, quick-response organizing for effective participation in policy dialogue.
- NGO-ization has been identified as a key challenge facing women's movements globally since the 1990s, characterized by a lack of mass base, connection, and accountability, and donor dependence.
Consequences of NGO-ization
- NGO-ization has led to the substitution of NGOs for civil society and mass movements, and a short-term, project-based approach that favors magic bullets over long-range, broad agendas for women's rights and gender equality.
- Three decades of NGO-ization have been identified as a key factor in the lack of progress on women's rights worldwide, as NGOs lack the capacity for sustained change and struggle to deal with the state and powerful forces on a footing of strength.
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Description
Explore the history and impact of women's organizations in Ghana, from colonial times to present day, and their influence on policy changes and democratic rights.
