WEANING WOMEN WITH DISABILITY IN GHANA FROM POVERTY: IS MICRO-CREDIT THE SOLUTION?

Abstract

Women with disabilities in Ghana have limited access to micro-credit and other social services. They are confronted with challenges ranging from societal discrimination, low level of self esteem, limited mobility, high dependency and poverty, limited access to education, health and employment among others. They have difficulty in getting life partners as compared to men with disabilities. However, like any other women, they are primary care givers and the first agent of socialization. The objective of the study therefore is to find out the impact of microcredit on the lives of women with disabilities who gain access to microloans for business, with particular reference to those living in the Tamale Metropolis of Ghana. The study utilized both qualitative and quantitative methods to obtain information. The study showed that women with disability engage mostly in trading activities just like any other business women or petty traders and as such require regular flow of credits to run their business, however because of the stigma associated with disability they face a lot of challenges in accessing loans. It is recommended that since microfinance services are a means of broadening economic participation to include the marginalized and vulnerable groups the issue of fiscal/budget subvention microfinance programmes should be pursued.