Dean of the School of Journalism and Media Studies at the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UNIMAC), Prof Etse Sikanku, has said the practice of widows succeeding their spouses in Parliament is a long-established democratic phenomenon that also contributes positively to gender representation.
According to Prof Sikanku, widow succession is not unique to Ghana and has been part of democratic systems across the world for more than a century.
“This is not really a very strange phenomenon. If you compare it to other democracies or jurisdictions, it has been happening since 1922, believe it or not,” he said on JoyNews’ The Pulse programme.
He cited the United States as a key example, noting that at least 48 widows have, over time, gone on to become members of Congress after the deaths of their spouses.
“As we are speaking, in the US, for instance, they have had about 48 widows throughout their history. Forty-eight widows have become members of Congress, all through what is known within the academic literature,” Prof Sikanku explained.
Drawing parallels with Ghana’s political history, the media and governance expert said similar trends have occurred locally, with several constituencies witnessing widows contesting and winning parliamentary seats.
“In Ghana, we do have our own history. If you trace the trajectory, we’ve had quite a number of these situations happening,” he noted.
He mentioned Asutifi South, Shai Osudoku, Ayawaso West Wuogon—where Lydia Alhassan won a by-election — and the Mfantseman Constituency, where Ophelia Hayford also entered Parliament following the death of her husband.
“These examples show that we’ve had our own feel of that as well,” he added.
Prof Sikanku stressed that, beyond political continuity, widow succession plays an important role in improving female representation in Ghana’s Parliament.
“It helps to increase gender representation in Parliament, especially if the spouse is a female,” he said.
He explained that such developments align with broader efforts to close the gender gap in political leadership and ensure greater inclusion of women in decision-making processes.
While acknowledging that widow succession sometimes generates public debate, Prof Sikanku maintained that it should be understood within a broader democratic and historical context.
His comments come amid the declaration by the widow of the late Ayawaso East MP Hajia Amina Adam to contest the upcoming election.
According to her, the decision to enter the race was driven by strong appeals from constituents, party grassroots members, and traditional elders, who encouraged her to continue the work of her late husband.
She noted that the late Mahama Naser Toure served the Ayawaso East Constituency with dedication and distinction and said she had carefully reflected on the calls made by community leaders before agreeing to serve.
Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced guidelines for the conduct of its Ayawaso East parliamentary primary in the Greater Accra Region as part of preparations towards the March 3 by-election.
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