Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Poverty Alleviation Programs for Female Slum Dwellers in Ghana: The Case of Ashaiman

  • Published:
Global Social Welfare Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Although poverty is a global problem, it hugely affects the slum population who are mostly located in the developing and underdeveloped countries. Slums experience higher levels of poverty partly due to their limited access to resources, and limited poverty alleviation programmes from governments, as they are treated as informal and illegal settlements. Female slum dwellers in Ghana experience high poverty levels, as their limited access to resources and programmes has been exacerbated by patriarchy in the country which has disempowered many women. This qualitative study explores poverty alleviation programmes for women in Ashaiman. It was found that both the government and civil society have been active in alleviating poverty among the women in Ashaiman, through programmes like the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), formation of savings groups and training in income generating skills. While these programmes have assisted some females in Ashaiman, they have been challenged by some factors, necessitating the resolution of such impediments so that the optimal benefits of such interventions can be achieved.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adjei, D. S. (2012). Micro, small and medium scale enterprises in Ghana: Challenges and prospects: A case study of Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis. Retrieved on 1st December, 2020, from http://dspace.knust.edu.gh/bitstream/123456789/4341/1/Adjei%2C%20Daniel%20Sarpong.pdf

  • Adu-Okoree, B. I. (2012). Peri-urban poverty: Can micro-finance be a panacea?International Journal of Sociology and Anthropology 4(6), 190-198.

  • Agyapong, D. (2010). Micro, small and medium enterprises’ activities, income level and poverty reduction in Ghana: A synthesis of related literature . International Journal of Business and Management, 5(12), 196–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahlvin, K. (2012). The burden of the Kayayei: Cultural and socio-economic difficulties facing female porters in Agbogbloshie . Pure Insights, 1(4), 9–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Hassan, R., & Poulton, C. (2009). Agriculture and social protection in Ghana. Retrieved on 17th November, 2018 from https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/bitstream/handle/123456789/2340/FAC_Working_Paper_009.pdf?sequence=1

  • Amporfu, E., Sakyi, D., Frimpong, P. B., Arthur, E., & Novignon, J. (2018). The Distribution of Paid and Unpaid Work among Men and Women in Ghana: The National Time Transfer Accounts Approach (No. cwwwp3).

  • Amuzu, C., Jones, N., Pereznieto, P. (2010). Gendered risks, poverty and vulnerability in Ghana: To what extent is the LEAP cash transfer program making a difference? ODI London

  • Annor, F. (2014). Managing work and family demands: The perspectives of employed parents in Ghana. In Work–family interface in Sub-Saharan Africa (pp. 17–36). Springer, Cham.

  • Appiah-Kubi, J. (2018). Challenges encountered in community development in urban slums: A study of Ashaiman, Ghana. International Journal of Science: Basic and Applied Research , 42(1), 81–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Appiah-Kubi, J. (2020). Overcoming community development challenges in urban slums . Journal of Human and Health Services Administration, 42(4), 395–427.

    Google Scholar 

  • Awumbila, M. (2006). Gender equality and poverty in Ghana: Implications for poverty reduction strategies. GeoJournal, 67(2), 149–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baah-Nuakoh, A. (2003). Environment, Informal Sector and labour markets Woeli Publishing Services Accra.

  • Battersby, J. (2017). MDGs to SDGs–new goals, same gaps: The continued absence of urban food security in the post-2015 global development agenda . African Geographical Review , 36(1), 115–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beyene, N. L., & Dinbabo, M. F. (2019). An empirical evaluation of the link between women participation in Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) and poverty reduction in Ethiopia . Journal of Reviews on Global Economics , 8, 566–580.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boateng, G. O., & Boateng, A. A. (2014). Assessment of the effectiveness of Ghanaian micro-finance institutions in promoting entrepreneurs in Accra metropolis . Research Journal of Finance and Accounting , 5(6), 15–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boateng, G. O., Boateng, A. A., & Bampoe, H. S. (2015). Microfinance and poverty reduction in Ghana: Evidence from policy beneficiaries . Review of Business & Finance Studies , 6(1), 99–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonye, S. Z., Thaddeus, A. A., & Owusu-Sekyere , E. (2013). Community development in Ghana: Theory and practice . European Scientific Journal , 9(17), 79–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chant, S. H. (2007). Gender, generation and poverty: Exploring the feminization of poverty in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Northampton: Edward Elgar Publishing.

  • E Cooke S Hague A McKay 2016 The Ghana poverty and inequality report: Using the 6th Ghana living standards survey University of Sussex Falmer

    Google Scholar 

  • Coutts Institute (2012). Women in family business. Family business briefing paper. London: Coutts Institute.

  • Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (3rd ed.). Los Angeles: Sage Publication.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dako-Gyeke, M., & Kofie, H. M. (2015). Factors influencing prevention and control of malaria among pregnant women resident in urban slums, Southern Ghana. African journal of reproductive health, 19(1), 44–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Demirguc-Kunt, A., Klapper, L., & Singer, D. (2013). Financial inclusion and legal discrimination against women: evidence from developing countries. The World Bank.

  • Ghana Statistical Service (2012). 2010 population and housing census (PHC) Accra: Ghana Statistical Service

  • Haregewoin, Y. M. (2007). Integrated housing development programs for urban poverty alleviation and sustainable urbanization (The Case of Addis Ababa). In ENHR International Conference on Sustainable Urban Areas. Rotterdam.

  • Joyonline.com (2018). 6.8 million Ghanaians poor – GSS report. Retrieved on 23rd December 2018 from https://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2018/September-19th/68m-ghanaians-poor-gss-report.php

  • Laird, E., & S. (2007). Rolling back the African State: Implications for social development. Social Policy and Administration, 41(5), 465–486.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mani, A., Mullainathan, S., Shafir, E., & Zhao, J. (2013). Poverty impedes cognitive function. Science, 341(6149), 976–980.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Molini, V., & Paci, P. (2015). Poverty reduction in Ghana: Progress and challenges. Washington, DC: The World Bank.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nukpezah, J. A., & Blankson, C. (2017). Microfinance intervention in poverty reduction: A study of women farmer-entrepreneurs in rural Ghana. Journal of African Business, 18(4), 457–475.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Odell, K. (2010). Measuring the impact of microfinance (pp. 1–38). Washington: Grameen Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oduro-Ofori, E., Anokye, P. A., & Mathias, E. (2014). Microfinance and small loans centre (MASLOC) as a model for promoting micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the Ashaiman municipality of Ghana. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 5(28), 53–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orokpo, O. F., & Mutong, S. M. (2018). Nigeria’s raising poverty profile amidst poverty alleviation programmes: Interrogating the paradox. International Journal of Innovative Development and policy Studies, 6(2), 109–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osei, R. D. (2011). Reducing poverty through a social grants program: The case of Ghana. ISSER research paper, Ghana Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.

  • Owusu, M., Nursey-Bray, M., & Rudd, D. (2019). Gendered perception and vulnerability to climate change in urban slum communities in Accra. Ghana. Regional Environmental Change, 19(1), 13–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palmer, R. (2007). Skills for work?: From skills development to decent livelihoods in Ghana’s rural informal economy. International journal of educational development, 27(4), 397–420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peloso, M. M., Harris, L. M. (2017). Pathways for participatory water governance in Ashaiman, Ghana: Learning from institutional bricolage and hydrosocial perspectives. Society & Natural Resources, 30(12), 1491-1506.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sulemana, M., Naiim, F. M., & Adjanyo, C. (2019). Role of microfinance in poverty reduction in the Ashaiman Municipality. Ghana. African Research Review, 13(3), 1–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taiwo, J. N., & Agwu, P. E. (2016). Problems and prospects of poverty alleviation programmes in Nigeria. International Journal of Business and Management Review, 4(6), 18–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ugoh, S. C., & Ukpere, W. I. (2009). Appraising the trend of policy on poverty alleviation programmes in Nigeria with emphasis on a National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP). African Journal of Business Management, 3(12), 847–854.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wrigley-Asante, C. (2008). Men are poor but women are poorer: Gendered poverty and survival strategies in the Dangme West District of Ghana. Norwegian Journal of Geography, 62(3), 161–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank (2020). Poverty and Equity Data Portal. Retrieved on 30th November, 2020 from https://povertydata.worldbank.org/poverty/country/GHA

  • Yilmaz, K. (2013). Comparison of quantitative and qualitative research traditions: Epistemological, theoretical, and methodological differences. European Journal of Education, 48(2), 311–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This study was solely funded by the author with no external source of funding, as part of my master’s thesis research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Social Policy Institute, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University, Ankara, Turkey

    Jamal Appiah-Kubi

Authors
  1. Jamal Appiah-Kubi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jamal Appiah-Kubi.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The author declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

This paper has been carved from a broader study conducted by the researcher as part of his Master of Philosophy program. In order to ensure that the study conformed to standard practices in academic research, ethical issues were duly observed. Although ethical clearance was not sought for this study, the researcher under the guidance of supervisors ensured that specific ethical issues were not compromised, leading to its acceptance by the Graduate School of the university. Ethical issues that were keenly observed were participants’ informed consent, voluntary participation, anonymity and confidentiality and avoidance of plagiarism.

Informed Consent

The informed consent of all participants was sought. This process involved explaining the study to participants. The likely risks that participants could have been exposed to as a result of their participation in the study were also explained to them. The tool to be utilized in data collection (interview) was also clearly explained to the participants during the recruitment process. Participants were also made to sign a consent form prior to their engagement in the study. The consent form is attached below:

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Appiah-Kubi, J. Poverty Alleviation Programs for Female Slum Dwellers in Ghana: The Case of Ashaiman. Glob Soc Welf 8, 221–229 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-021-00202-x

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-021-00202-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation