This report is the outcome of a study undertaken on men’s and women’s access to and control over land in the Volta Region of Ghana. The study was conducted, between August 2000 and December 2001, by Ms. Beatrice Akua Duncan on behalf of the Ghana Office for Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF). It was commissioned by the SNV Netherlands Development Organisation - Ghana Office, and the Gender and Development Unit of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations - Regional Office for Africa (FAORAF).
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Topics discussed:
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The study evolved out of a need for increased insight into gender differences regarding access to and control over land and the implications of insecure access to land for households within the Volta Region of Ghana (refer to annex 1 for a map of Ghana). Such insight would assist FAO in the development and implementation of sustainable interventions to increase food production and improve food security at the household level. In addition, it would support the SNV/WiLDAF Legal Awareness Programme in the identification of components for sustainable legal awareness programmes, aimed at strengthening women’s capacities to defend their rights. The study would further assist the SNV Netherlands Development Organisation to identify issues for community awareness raising and action, with the aim of enhancing women’s access to and control over land within the context of natural resource management.
The objective of the study was to obtain an improved understanding of existing gender-specific constraints to secure land tenure in the Volta Region of Ghana. Such insight could promote: i) enhanced decision making power for women in their efforts to obtain more secure access to land within the framework of existing legal, customary rights, regulations and practices; ii) increased female utilisation of legal aid and other legal services; and iii) improved agricultural productivity, of especially women farmers, and improved food security at the household level due to an increased security of land tenure.
The expected outcomes and activities of the study were defined as:
1. Documentation of current legal and customary rights, regulations and practices that have an impact upon women’s access to land in the Volta Region of Ghana;
2. Identification of gender-specific constraints with regard to secure access to land, which could be taken into account in agricultural and forestry development programmes aiming at promoting the full participation of women farmers in the programmes.
3. Identification of components for sustainable legal awareness training programmes, aiming at strengthening women’s capacities to defend their land rights;
4. Identification of issues for community awareness raising and action to improve women’s access to and control over land within the context of natural resource management and agricultural production.
Data presented in the study were obtained through primary data collection (i.e. through distribution of questionnaires and focus group discussions) and secondary data collection (i.e. by reviewing existing literature on men’s and women’s access to and control over land in Africa, Ghana and the Volta Region).
The study focuses on three sub-regions differentiated within the Volta Region, namely: the Northern zone, the Central zone and the Southern zone. The two main criteria used for stratifying the zones were major crops grown and dominant ethnic groups residing in the area. Local-based Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), such as the Forest Protection and Resource Use Management (FORUM) and SANKOFA, were contacted in the Region for advice on the selection of communities for the study. This was done based on significant characteristics of the communities. Researchers and personnel from the NGOs visited each community to assess the situation in the field and to consult with local opinion leaders and other key persons. Based on these visits, a total of 14 communities and 7 districts were selected (refer to table 1 and annex 2).
Table 1: Distribution of questionnaires; differentiated according to sub-regions, districts and communities
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Sub-regions |
Districts |
Number of questionnaires conducted |
Communities studied |
Significant characteristics of the communities |
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Northern zone |
Jasikan |
35 |
Asato, Jasikan, and Ahamansu |
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Kadjebi |
66 |
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Central zone |
Kpando |
33 |
Kpedze, Aloryi, Gbefi and Lolibi (Ashaimbi and Kumasi) |
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Hohoe |
38 |
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Ho |
28 |
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Southern zone |
Keta |
66 |
Abor, Anloga, Fievie, Agorkpoenu, Aloryi, Gbenorkope and Sogakope |
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South Tongu |
34 |
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Total |
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300 |
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Source: WILDAF Study 2000
An average of 100 questionnaires was administered in each of the sub regions through a targeted sampling process. The sample was sex determined (60% of the respondents were female and 40% were male) and age determined (60% of the respondents were under the age of 40 years and 40% were over the age of 40). This was done to obtain greater insight into women’s perceptions of their access to and control over land and to assess both past and current developments with regard to men’s and women’s access to and control over land in the Region. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to process and analyse the collected data.
Focus group discussions were held with traditional rulers, opinion leaders, teachers and community members to cross-check information obtained through the administered questionnaires, to collect additional information on trends observed, to obtain information from special groups within the societies studied (e.g. physically challenged women), and to start the process of advocacy and awareness raising among persons who could affect changes within their communities with regard to gender and land. (refer to annex 3)
The report is structured as follows:
Chapter two presents a compact literature review on land issues in Africa, Ghana and the Volta Region.
Chapter three provides a profile of the study area and the target group, and discusses various characteristics of the agricultural sector in the Volta Region.
Chapter four focuses on men’s and women’s access to and control over land in Volta Region.
Chapter five focuses on the impact of legal and customary rights, regulations and practices on men’s and women’s access to and control over land in the Volta Region.
Chapter six discusses the key findings of the study and presents an overview of factors that affect men’s and women’s access to and control over land in the Volta Region. Recommendations have been formulated to increase the security of land tenure in the Region and to address gender inequalities in access to and control over land.
