Women’s Rights in Ghana

In northern Ghana an MP invited to a public meeting hosted by the Zuuri Organic Vegetable Farmers' Association (African Initiatives' partner) gave his standard sermon and then turned to enjoy the customary snacks. The women humbly asked him to stay because he hadn't heard what they required of him. Surprised, if not a little shocked, he stayed and was heard to mumble “I'd better remember this place when the election comes.”

What’s the Issue?

The saddest omission from the plethora of negative images and messages put out by the media and some charities is the resilience, capacity and solidarity of African women. Women are often invisible but crucial in conflict resolution, peace building, struggles against oppression, child protection, promoting education, campaigns against violence, caring for the sick, and local economies.

The position of women in Ghana makes them particularly vulnerable as they have restricted access to land and natural resources, power and decision making, capital, access to basic services (education, health legal) and physical security.  Programmes supporting farmers are usually dominated by men’s issues and needs, ignoring the evidence that women provide 80% of farm labour. The overall aim of African Initiatives programme in northern Ghana is to improve the economic, political, social/cultural and environmental rights of women. 

Our experience is that women’s roles and positions are primarily defined within the culture - therefore work on women’s rights must start at this level.  The second lesson is that for women to bring about positive change they need economic security, either income generation or access to productive land. 

What’s African Initiatives doing?

Training

African Initiatives has supported and encouraged the training of women in 3 districts on advocacy. As a result, 8 women have been elected to District Assemblies.  The further training of women in 5 communities in leadership has resulted in one case in women becoming active in the Water User Associations and improving water use practices.

Access

Together with our partners we have supported women in 8 communities to get secure access to productive, fertile land close to water, and ownership of small livestock. African Initiatives continues to advocate the recognition of women as farmers. This has included sensitisation training for 10 local NGOs. One NGO has since appointed a woman as their advocacy officer.

Credit Programme

The women’s credit programme has moved into a new and exciting phase. The women’s credit and income generating scheme has given over 1,250 women economic independence and repayment rates of 99%.  242 women now receive credit benefiting over 200 family compounds (approximately 2,000 individuals.)  Credit is now “revolving”, reaching surrounding communities. Repayment rates and income remain high providing the evidence for us to lobby the local bank to provide mobile banking services directly to the community, including credit and loans.  African Initiatives now does not need to build up the capital. All our work aims to be financially sustainable and this has been achieved with this credit project continuing to bring sustained benefits to more families.

Education

The family reproductive healthcare and HIV/AIDS education activities are continuing with training of traditional birth attendants to educate young women about HIV/AIDS and the health risks of female genital mutilation.  Furthermore the Ministry of Health were so impressed with the approach they have adapted it to their community work. Community reproductive healthcare (linked with the female genital mutilation work) involves family planning; access to contraception and HIV/Aids awareness. This has reduced miscarriage rates by 5% and child health has seen an improvement.  More people, especially young people and women, are aware of the causes and cost of HIV/ AIDS and the lifestyle changes required to reduce infection rates.

FGM and Domestic Violence

African Initiatives has combined the work on Female Genital Mutilation with work on domestic violence. Together with our partners we have increased awareness of these issues through a variety of ways. There has been training for 7 NGOs on domestic violence. We have also mobilised and trained 8 community Gender Activist Teams (GATs), followed by community meetings with traditional leaders and District Assembly members.  GATs identify and support contact points in each community for women to go to for safety, support and counselling with her husband. African Initiatives has trained 200 people, including more than 50 men, on the current law concerning women’s rights and has helped to educate key elders and chiefs.  Although a taboo subject we have found that there has been an increase in the number of victims who come forward for support.

“It took continued education in the community and schools about the dangers of FGM. I could see some women were seriously affected. We didn’t preach, preach, preach. It is important we work in the culture and get the support of traditional leaders. Sometimes these women have a special power.” Rebecca Seidhu, Community Women’s Rights Worker

 “I do not see or hear beatings and shouting of women in this community. Psychological abuse which cannot be seen may be there, but I have seen big changes in this community. I have been involved with settling DV cases between couples and children. People call me ‘DV Soldier’ in this community but it doesn’t scare me, I believe in women having freedom.

At first we women in this community couldn’t sit with men in meetings and talk but now we are enlightened. Personally, too, my confidence level is raised. I didn’t used to be able to talk in public, but now I can do without shyness.”
Lamisi Mburi

Please take a look at some more of the personal experiences of women in Ghana and Tanzania in their struggle for equality on our Campaigns and Resources page.