Browsing by Author "Agroh, Emmanuel Kwaku Davidson"

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    Exploring livelihood options among women: the case of employees of small-scale palm oil producers in the kwaebibirem district, Ghana
    (JUNE, 2015 ) Agroh, Emmanuel Kwaku Davidson
    The study explores livelihood options among women: The case of employees of small-scale palm oil producers. The main objective was to identify alternative sources of livelihoods and coping strategies, socio-economic status of women employees of small-scale palm oil processors in the Kwaebibirem District. Livelihood options in this paper refer to the ‘different ways’ in which women employees of palm oil processors meet their daily needs. Census was used to interview 290 women employees. Random sampling of 10 communities and 25 palm oil processing enterprises were picked to represent the District. The data analysis was done by employing Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20) as a tool in order to make meaning out of the data. Based on the study, the following findings were made; Women employees (84%) of palm oil producers have no employable skills and want skill training. These women employees have five main sources of livelihood. Palm oil processing, Farming and Petty trading form a coping strategy for the women employees of palm oil producers in the District. All women employees are casual workers, 5% belongs to Community Based Organizations and Farmer Based Organizations. Ghana Oil Palm Development Company affected households of the respondents constitute 6%. The incomes of 78% of the women employees fall below the minimum wage of Ghana for 2015 which ensures that their minimum standard of living as workers is met. Finally, the study revealed that women dominance in the palm oil processing industry is due to the fact that processing is traditionally meant for women. The study recommends that; The District Assembly as a matter of urgency strengthen the LESDEP programme in training school dropout, unskilled people, including women employees (84.3%) of palm oil producers without employable skills which pose a poverty threat and other social problems in the future. The District Assemblies could do this through collaboration with local NGOs interested in skill development. The collaboration between the District Assemblies and the NGOs may take the form of sharing both human and material resources through public- private partnership.