Socio-Cultural Factors Affecting The Participation Of Women In Socioeconomic Development In Bongo Traditional Area Of The Upper East Region Of Ghana

ABSTRACT

Empowering women to contribute their quota towards community and national development has become a contemporary issue embraced worldwide. Despite the fact that women’s political participation right has been enshrined in the international law, little is known about the struggles and experience women in Africa face in their quest to participate in the development of the community and the country at large. The study sought to examine socio-cultural factors affecting the participation of women in socioeconomic development in Bongo Traditional Area of the Upper East Region of Ghana. Descriptive survey was found to be the most appropriate research design. Qualitative data were collected from women and men via standardize questionnaire and interview. Probability and non-probability sampling techniques were employed to sample the 123 respondents to participate in the study. The study found that patriarchal family structure (74.0%) of inheritance, (84%) early marriage and early parenting terminates education and (56.0%) interference by extended family members are some of the socio-cultural factors that influence women participation in the development of the District. The study revealed that the patrilineal system, extended family system, early marriage, early parenting, land ownership, ownership of valuable properties, seeking of permission from husbands before accessing credit and kind of animals to rear negatively affects the participation of women in the development of Bongo traditional area. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that, low level of education, and lack of women right to access land and control over property remain major problems which militate against women empowerment in the Bongo District. It was recommended that educating women and altering some of the traditions should be some of the priorities in empowering women to help develop the district.