Meet one of the first Ghanaian female parliamentarians of the First Republic

Ghana’s struggle for independence was not fought by men alone, as several courageous women played vital roles in mobilising communities, supporting political activities, and shaping the nation’s early political landscape.

One of such women was Sophia Oboshie Doku, a devoted political activist who later became one of the first female parliamentarians of the First Republic under Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah.

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Trained as a teacher, Doku was among the female activists who contributed significantly to the independence movement.

Her political journey began with the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), where she was a founding member and one of the first executive members of the party’s Accra branch.

Like several other women activists at the time, she later joined the Convention People’s Party (CPP) when it was formed by Kwame Nkrumah.

Doku later made history when she became the first female parliamentarian in the first Parliament of the First Republic.

Beyond her role in Parliament, she also served in public service. In 1953, she was appointed assistant welfare officer at the Department of Social Welfare.

In 1958, she became one of the first female camp superintendent of the Builders Brigade, an initiative established to train young people in vocational skills to support national development.

She subsequently served in various capacities within the Department of Social Welfare and the Builders Brigade, contributing to Ghana’s early nation-building efforts.

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The role of this unsung heroine may have been forgotten by many, but her contributions to nation-building, Ghana’s achievements, peace, democracy, and her enduring legacy continue to live on.

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