Policy dialogue held on Women's Economic rights

A policy dialogue aimed at enhancing awareness of gender and spousal provisions in the Land Act, 2020, took place in Accra.

The event was organized by Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) in collaboration with OXFAM, under the Women’s Economic Advancement for Collective Transformation (WEACT) and Together Against Poverty (TAP) projects. Funding for these initiatives was provided by Global Affairs Canada.

The dialogue brought together key stakeholders, including civil society organizations, women farmers, and government representatives, to discuss women’s land rights. It sought to raise awareness about the gender and spousal provisions within the Land Act, 2020, and included the launch of two policy briefs.

The two briefs introduced during the event were titled:

1. Improving Women’s Access to Productive Resources in the Shea and Cocoa Value Chain Commodities.
2. Enhancing Women’s Property Rights in Shea and Cocoa-producing Communities.

In her opening remarks, Loise Aduamoah-Addo, Programmes Manager at WiLDAF Ghana, explained that the dialogue was designed to enhance the understanding of civil society actors and women farmers regarding gender-related provisions in the Land Act. Additionally, it aimed to promote accountability and advocate for gender-responsive budgeting at the district level.

She highlighted the five-year WEACT project, funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by OXFAM in partnership with WiLDAF Ghana and other consortium members. The TAP project, also supported by OXFAM, complements WEACT by addressing systemic inequalities and strengthening women’s land rights and gender-responsive budgeting, particularly in cocoa and shea production communities.

Legal practitioner Catherine Ama Nartey emphasized the importance of women asserting their rights within marriages and society. She encouraged women to claim ownership of land, whether independently or jointly with their spouses, to prevent being denied their entitlements.

Fati Alhassan, representing OXFAM Ghana, highlighted the WEACT project’s focus on empowering women and girls through the shea and cocoa value chains. Ibrahim Alkabila, Executive Director of the Ghana Trade and Livelihood Coalition (GTLC), advocated for district-level gender-responsive budgeting to ensure equitable allocation of resources across social groups.