Gender Access To Microfinance: A Case Study Of Loan Repayment Determinants In Greater Accra Region, Ghana

Abstract

Most microfinance institutions globally, have majority of their customers as women with few men or even in some cases, no men at all. The study investigated the reasons for the gender imbalances in the microfinance industries guided by microfinance loan repayment determinants. A census of 74 microfinance institutions from four districts of Accra; Tema Metropolitan, Ashaiman Municipal, Dangbe East District and finally, Ningo/Prampra District Assembly were interviewed. A sample of 370; five customers each from these MFIs were selected. The paper used percentage method, simple correlation coefficients, cross tabulations, Chi-square tests and logistics regression analysis to discuss and interpret the results. The main finding of the study shows that, MFIs do not run gender discriminatory programs as it has seemed to be. However, some MFIs turn to prefer women to men simply because women save more, and also do not default loans payment compared to men. The research therefore recommended that MFIs must make effort to reach out for men through a reduction of exorbitant charges on their loans; since this is the most reason cited by men for their poor patronage. This also, would go a long way to reduce loan default challenges among men.