Feminism in Islam: A Study of the Obstacles of Muslim Women Political Participation in Ghana

Religion plays an important role in the lives of individuals. It most especially highlights the dictates of the good and bad for people through its scriptures. In some societies, religion is infused into their cultures, making it difficult for the people to determine the difference. Ghana is known for its religious tolerance and also its belief in patriarchy among others. The country has a majority of about 70% citizens in the Christian faith, 17% in the Islamic faith and the remaining is shared between others which may include the traditional belief systems. This article seeks to highlight the impact of Islam on political participation in Ghana and Parliament in particular. The focus of this study is to discuss the question relating to the limited level of participation of Muslim women in parliament. In particular, the article assesses the Qur'anic teachings to find out if the same is responsible for the minimal level of political participation or has served as an obstacle to the goals of Muslim women aspiring to be parliamentarians in Ghana.