Cocoa Production and Women’s Autonomy in Asikuma in the Central Region of Ghana

Abstract

The study investigates the complex roles and experiences of women in cocoa farming in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District of Ghana, situating their participation within the broader contexts of matrilineal kinship, household structures, and the political economy of agriculture. Drawing on feminist political economy, kinship theory, and economic anthropology, the study employs qualitative methods—including in-depth interviews, life histories, and focus group discussions—to examine how women access land, labour, and capital as independent farmers, sharecroppers, and labourers. The findings reveal a paradox: while matrilineal systems provide women with opportunities to inherit or access land, male-dominated lineage authority and commodification of land often constrain their autonomy and decision-making power. Women’s agency emerges in diverse forms—through negotiation, sharecropping, or purchasing land—but remains uneven across age, marital status, and socio-economic position. The study highlights how migration, resource scarcity, and commercialization have intensified gendered inequalities, leaving many women dependent on kinship negotiations or precarious labour arrangements. By documenting women’s life stories and strategies of resilience, the research underscores the importance of recognizing both women’s contributions and the structural barriers they face in cocoa production. The study concludes that policies promoting gender-equitable land rights, financial access, and cooperative support are essential for strengthening women’s autonomy and enhancing inclusive rural development in Ghana’s cocoa sector.