GENDER AND LEADERSHIP: A PERCEIVED DISCRIMINATION AGAINST FEMALE MINISTERS OF THE GHANA BAPTIST CONVENTION

Abstract

Central to leadership is the ability to influence people within a jurisdiction towards the achievement of goals and not gender. However, around the world there is the view that men should naturally lead. This has resulted in low or non-representation of women in major decision bodies in the world. This research examined the perceived discrimination against female ministers in the Ghana Baptist Convention. In the study, an attempt was made to examine the opinion of some members of the Ghana Baptist Convention in the St. James Baptist Church – Bantama and Trinity Baptist Church – Patasi, all in Kumasi, Ghana. The data collected were analysed with simple summary descriptive statistics in accordance with the aim of the study. The findings revealed that the perceived discrimination is as a result of the tradition they inherited from the Southern Baptist Convention/USA. The female ministers raised the issues of discrimination with some of the male ministers agreeing with them. The responses of the members from the churches affirmed the perception of discrimination the female ministers raised. The study recommended that the Ghana Baptist Convention should attempt to remedy the situation and put measures in to improve the competencies of female ministers for effective ministry.