EXPLORING INTO MICROFINANCE AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD IN NORTHERN GHANA A CASE STUDY OF WOMEN PEASANT FARMERS IN THE SISSALA EAST DISTRICT

Abstract

Poverty reduction strategies have taken different dimensions including sustainable livelihood and microfinance interventions in Ghana as a Nation and Northern Ghana as a targeted geographical area. Microfinance and Sustainable livelihood both have the ultimate objective of eliminating poverty to the barest minimum but how compatible are these strategies of poverty reduction. The research work unravelled the influence and impact of microfinance as a poverty reduction strategy on sustainable livelihood and whether there is any future at all for microfinance and sustainable livelihood to complement each other's objectives. The research also provided a comprehensive comparison in terms of objectives, roles, products, services, clientele and influences including impact assessment of the respective subject matters. It is therefore imperative for a deeper exploration into the various microfmance products and how this impact on sustainable livelihood. The research is exploratory in nature. It has taken into consideration both quantitative and qualitative methods and made use of written questionnaires, interviews and reviewing available official documents. The resultant effect of the research work is multipurpose in nature, be it academic work, or the e potential to influence stakeholders of both microfinance and sustainable livelihood institutions and Non-Governmental Organisations that are into these areas of interest and all who have a stake in the various strategies of poverty reduction in Ghana.