ACCESS OF WOMEN TO LAND, AND HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY IN THE NANDOM DISTRICT OF THE UPPER WEST REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

The study examined access of women to land and household food security in the Nandom District of the Upper West Region of Ghana. Land is identified as a key productive resource. In Ghana, it is estimated by Amu (2005) that women produce about 70-80 percent of the food consumed and are responsible for food security. However, women’s access to and control over land is met with numerous challenges. Women in Ghana including those in Nandom have not been spared these challenges in their attempts to access land for various agricultural activities. The study was guided by objectives such as examining the extent of land ownership by women and general land ownership systems existing in the district among others. To achieve the research objectives, a cross sectional descriptive survey design was adopted. The population of the study consisted of all adults in all communities in the Nandom district although the major target group was women. A total of 200 women were sampled through a multi-stage sampling process. The survey data was presented in tables and charts using percentages. The study found that the main land ownership systems that exist in the district are communal, family and individual ownerships. It also found that the major mode of land access by women in the district is through acquisition from husbands. In addition, the study identified lower outputs due to small farm size and lack of secure land rights resulting in inability to access credit as some of the major effects of land tenure systems on food security in the district. The study therefore concluded that the customary practices which hamper women’s access to land and tenure security would have negative consequences on household food security in the district, especially in the near future. The study recommended that innovative ways should be found to engage community leaders to encourage them to review their customs and allow women to own land as well as be able to access relatively large parcels of land for farming and other livelihood activities.