Redefining Community Development: Exploring the Untapped Potentials of Ashanti Queen Mothers as Catalysts for Community Transformation in the Ashanti Region of Ghana

This paper examines the contemporary roles of queen mothers in fostering community development, specifically in the Kumasi Metropolis, addressing a gap in existing literature that has primarily focused on male traditional leaders. Grounded in role congruity theory and symbolic interactionism, this qualitative study employed in-depth interviews and non-participant observation techniques with eight queen mothers to explore their agency in community development. The findings reveal that queen mothers actively engage in development initiatives, including infrastructure projects, which are beyond their traditional responsibilities. However, their effectiveness is hindered by financial constraints and gender biases from traditional authorities, community members, and external donors. Hence, the findings of the study contribute to the literature on women and governance by highlighting the contemporary roles of queen mothers and emphasising the importance of gender inclusivity in traditional governance for comprehensive community development. It advocates for equitable support mechanisms to promote gender equity and enhance the effectiveness of queen mothers in their community development efforts. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.