Multiple Roles of African Women Leaders and Their Challenges: The Case of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana

Abstract

In the Ghanaian communities women turn to play multiple roles in whatever situations they find themselves. In combining the traditional and contemporary roles, many women find themselves playing the roles as wives, mothers, reverend ministers, ministers in politics, Chief justices at the supreme court, speakers of parliament, doctors, lawyers, farmers, traders, judges, secretaries, nurses, architects, engineers, lecturers among others. It is not uncommon to find a woman playing multiple roles, a woman being a mother, wife, a commissioned and an ordained minister (roles mentioned above) at the same time. The study examines the theory of gender discourse as a theoretical frame using historical analysis method. The existing structures within both the church and society are patriarchal and the structures turn to focus more on men than on women in the various sectors of life. After 1976 women have been congregational leaders embarking on developmental projects in the Presbyterian Church of Ghana(PCG) and generally, participating fully in almost all aspects of the church’s activities.  Though women leaders in the church are performing multiple roles; there are some socio-cultural perceptions that prevent their recognition. Women leaders in the Presbyterian Church of Ghana do not have access to the decision making positions. The researcher found out that though the women leaders in the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, for example,  are effectively performing multiple  roles in the church and in the other sectors of life, they are neither recognised.

Keywords: Presbyterian, Women, Multiple Roles, Contemporary roles, Gender