Microcredit and the socio-cultural obstacles to women’s empowerment in Northern territories of Ghana

• Published in: Kadin/Woman 2000 Vol. 19; no. 2; pp. 31 - 49
• Main Authors: Jenkins,Hatice, Batinge,Bibiana Koglinuu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Doğu Akdeniz Üniversitesi Kadın Araştırmaları ve Eğitimi Merkezi 01-02-2018
• Subjects: Felsefe & Psikoloji & Sosyoloji; Mersin; Türkiye; microfinance; kuzey Gana; kadınların güçlendirilmesi; women’s empowerment; northern Ghana; mikrofinans; poverty; yoksulluk
• ISSN: 1302-9916

This study investigates the impact of microfinance programmes on
women’s empowerment in the northern territory of Ghana, which is
known as the poorest part of the country. A survey methodology is used to
collect data from a sample of 247 female entrepreneurs and their
husbands (189 women and 58 men) in rural areas. The majority of the
sample are aged 40 or below, and many are illiterate. The research
findings indicate that although microfinance appears to have some
positive effects on women’s income, it is insufficient to ease the
hardships in the lives of women in northern Ghana. Most female
respondents indicated that women are largely forbidden by men to own
productive assets such as land and livestock. The traditional domineering
behaviour of men remains a significant obstacle. Despite the increase in
access to credit, microfinance itself may not be sufficient to eliminate
barriers to women’s empowerment and to the reduction of poverty.