Gender issues permeate women s agricultural partnerships and use of land resources, and reduce their willingness to take risks. On family farms, while women can influence decisions, the male head of household has final decision-making power and often controls household capital and labor. Uncertain access to land and a history of losing land rights have discouraged women s long-term investments or improvements in their own land. Moreover, restrictions often socially imposed about women s use of land limit their ability to participate in agroforestry or other programs that require long-term use of land. Programs to empower women farmers would increase women s access to production inputs, develop more equal agricultural extension services, and improve small-scale agroprocessing and storage techniques.
Women are very active economically in Ghana, and as likely as men to be involved in business.
Owning their enterprises enables women to meet their current needs, augment their earnings from agricultural activities, and acquire resources for future investments. But their success in business activities is constrained by cultural, educational, and economic barriers. Working to remove these barriers will boost business for Ghanaian women, and for Ghana. Adding to this are common perceptions that women s businesses should not be as large or successful as men s businesses. In micro-enterprises, where women predominate, Ghana lacks important financial support services and business training programs.