Women’s Land Access and Gendered Outcomes in Northern Ghana

Abstract

In rural Ghana, women encounter patriarchal values that restrict their access to productive agricultural lands. This undermines the productive capacity of women, affecting sustainable food production. Using mixed methods, we provide new insights into gendered land access in Northern Ghana. A sample of 228 household heads was surveyed from seven major communities across the study area. In-depth interviews were conducted with chiefs and women associations. Findings indicate that land-based decisions are mainly made by men as women were assigned to less fertile farmlands. As a result, women are disproportionately poorer and experienced occasional bouts of hunger. Outcomes of gendered land access were precarious, affecting poverty reduction, food security and women empowerment. The study recommends joint ownership of lands as a point of entry into customary land decision-making platforms by women. A deeper understanding of women’s land access dynamics in order to mainstream the same into land-sector policies was proffered.