Poverty Among Women Of Zangbalun In Kumbungu District Of The Northern Region

Abstract

Ghana has made considerable progress toward poverty reduction over the past few decades. However, poverty is still widespread in rural areas, especially in the Northern parts of the country. Also notwithstanding this progress, is Ghanaian women’s vulnerability to poverty. This study explored poverty among women, using Zangbalun in the Kumbungu District of the Northern Region as a case. The study also identified factors that contribute to poverty among women in the District. It further explored the challenges women living in poverty in Zangbalun encounter, examined the coping strategies adopted by the women in dealing with poverty, and, identified measures that can be put in place to alleviate poverty among women in the area. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were used to gather information. Qualitative methods were employed in the analysis of data. The study found that there are several factors, ranging from social to economic to cultural, that contribute to poverty among women in Kumbungu District. These factors include issues of land ownership and access to credit facilities among others. It also found that women encounter economic, health, and other challenges, and, adopt a variety of coping strategies to deal with poverty. The study further identified measures that can help alleviate poverty among women, and, made recommendations to that effect. The recommendations made include the need for sustained sensitization programmes to correct cultural factors that inhibit women’s ability to acquire, own and cultivate land. Reducing poverty among women in the Kumbungu District greatly depends on a concerted effort by local government and other community-based organizations in the District.