Alternative Livelihood for Women at Ghana Oil Palm Development Company Limited Catchment Area in the Kwaebibirem District

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2015-02-24
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Abstract
Livelihood from a broad point of view embodies elements which define people’s ability to ensure a good living which extends to their household. Low paid work is associated with women involved in part time work and those living in disadvantaged areas. Casual female employees of GOPDC Limited engage in alternative livelihoods as a response to their underemployment situation which generates low income. Empirical studies have highlighted that the living conditions of a population better explain development, especially in developing countries. The state’s role in the distribution of resources for improved quality of human life cannot be underestimated. The study assesses alternative livelihood and the socio-economic development of women in the catchment area of GOPDC, in the Kwaebibirem District. GOPDC catchment area was selected for the study and 157 women with alternative livelihoods were interviewed. The District Assembly and selected financial institutions and the Chemical Sellers Association provided information about the economic opportunities being created for women and the extent of resource distribution in the district. Aside the field data, relevant secondary data on livelihood and development were sourced and comparisons made in the analysis and discussion section. The quasi-experimental and cross-sectional designs formed the basis for the preparation of questionnaires and interview guide. The Sustainable Livelihood Framework was used for the analysis. Key findings from the study indicate that most of the current activities women engage in are service related activities, which do not conform to their job priorities. The major challenge constraining women’s activities is the low access to credit or loans. Also, women’s livelihoods are not sustainable because they contribute less to society in terms of tax payment and generation of employment. There is an increasing commitment of women towards female dependents education, but women need to do more with their activities. Again, institutions are concentrated at the district capital and these provide only gender-neutral interventions. Furthermore, women are surviving on low income enough to provide the basic needs of the household. On the basis of promoting alternative livelihoods, this study recommends the need for infrastructure provision, accessibility to credit facilities, development assistance to women, broadening the range of resources and improving female dependent education. The study concludes that alternative livelihood is a source of empowerment for rural women.
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A Thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Development Policy and Planning,
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