Every year, Ghana’s independence story is told through familiar names — Kwame Nkrumah, J B Danquah, and the other members of the United Gold Coast Convention and the Convention People’s Party.
Their speeches, arrests and rallies dominate textbooks and memorials.
But beyond the headlines and podiums, another force powered the struggle — women.
They sold cloth and tomatoes by day and organised protests by night. They smuggled messages, funded campaigns from market stalls, and traversed towns and villages recruiting supporters when many male leaders were in detention. Some were jailed. Others risked their businesses and safety. Many were never formally acknowledged.
Yet without them, the movement for self-rule may never have become a mass uprising.
From the fiery organising of Hannah Kudjoe to the pioneering political victories of Mabel Dove Danquah and the financial backbone provided by market leaders like Rebecca Naa Dedei Aryeetey, women were not merely supporters of Ghana’s freedom — they were architects of it.
This Black History Month, their stories demand to be told.
Hannah Kudjoe
One of the most influential female nationalists in the 1940s and 1950s, Hannah Kudjoe served as National Propaganda Secretary for the Convention People’s Party, helping to mobilise support across the Gold Coast. She organised rallies, raised funds, and was instrumental in spreading mass political awareness when the Big Six were imprisoned in 1948. After independence, she founded the All-African Women’s League, focusing on women’s welfare and community development.
Mabel Dove Danquah
A pioneer journalist, creative writer and early feminist voice, Mabel Dove Danquah used the written word to criticise colonial rule and advocate self-government. She was also a CPP organiser and became the first woman elected to any African legislative assembly in 1954 — representing the Ga Rural constituency. Her political career broke gender barriers in a male-dominated arena.
Ama Nkrumah
A lesser-known but dramatic figure, Ama Nkrumah earned her place in history through bold activism during the nationalist struggle. She once reportedly slashed her face and smeared herself with blood at a rally — challenging men to show equal sacrifice for independence. Her courage symbolised the deep commitment of women to the cause.
Sophia Oboshie Doku
An early female political organiser, Sophia Oboshie Doku joined the United Gold Coast Convention and helped galvanise grassroots support. She later became one of the first female parliamentarians in post-independence Ghana and served in welfare and administrative roles, exemplifying how women transitioned from activism into governance.
Susanna Al‑Hassan
Born in Tamale, Susanna Al-Hassan became the first African woman to hold a cabinet portfolio and was a Member of Parliament for the Northern Region. Her early political involvement helped pave the way for female leadership in Ghana’s post-colonial governance.
Rebecca Naa Dedei Aryeetey
Businesswoman and political activist who financed CPP campaigns and supported grassroots mobilisation; she appears on the Ghana 50-pesewa coin.
Agnes Oforiwa Tagoe-Quarcoopome
Market queen in Makola and Okaishie who mobilised funds and organised women traders to back the nationalist movement.
Akua Asaabea Ayisi, Leticia Quaye and others
Appointed as propaganda secretaries within the CPP, they toured the country enrolling members and spreading the party’s message at great personal risk, including imprisonment.
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