DECLARATION
I, HAYFRON-BENJAMIN MAVIS, declare that this thesis, with the exception of
quotations and references contained in published works which have all been identified
and acknowledged, is entirely my own original work, and it has not been submitted,
either in part or whole for another degree elsewhere.
Signature…………………………………………………………….
Date…………………………………………………………………
CERTIFICATION
This project has been read and approved as meeting the requirements of the School of
Research and Graduate Studies, University of Education, Winneba.
Principal supervisor……………………….…Dr. K. Ansah-Koi,
Signature……………………………………
Department of Social Studies
University of Education, Winneba.
External examiner………………………………..
Signature…………………………………………
Date………………………………………………
i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A study of this nature cannot be successful without the assistance of some people. I owe
such people immensely for their contributions towards the success of this work. First and
foremost, I must extend my sincere gratitude to my experienced and dynamic principal
supervisor Dr Ansah- Koi, for painstakingly reading through this work and providing
useful suggestions, organizing and reshaping my ideas to come out with this work. I also
wish to thank my mum Ms Hannah E. Odoom of the Psychology of Education
Department for her encouragements and support that urged me on to complete this
project.
My thanks also go to all my family members and friends who urged me on and prayed
fervently for me and also reading through this work. I thank all of them and pray that God
will shower His blessings on them all.
Mavis Hayfron- Benjamin.
ii
DEDICATION
This work is dedicated to my family for enduring my absence from home during the
period of my study.
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents
page
Declaration………………………………………………………………………… i
Certification……………………………………………………………………….. i
Acknowledgement………………………………………………………………… ii
Dedication…………………………………………………………………………. iii
Table of contents…………………………………………………………………. iv
List of tables…………………………………………………………………........ x
Abstract…………………………………………………………………………... xi
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background to the study……………………………………………………
1
1.2 Statement of the Problem…………………………………………………..
8
1.3 Purpose of the study………………………………………………………..
9
1.4 Objectives …………………………………………………………………..
10
1.5 Research Questions…………………………………………………………
10
1.6 Significance of the Study……………………………………………………
11
1.7 Delimitation …………………………………………………………………
12
1.8 Definition of terms…………………………………………………………..
12
1.9 Organization of the Work …………………………………………………..
13
iv
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 Introduction…………………………………………………………………… 15
2.1 The evolution of NGOs……………………………………………………….. 15
2.2 Growth of NGOs in Ghana……………………………………………………18
2.3 Sources of Finance of NGO………………………………………………….. 20
2.3.1 Private sector source of funding local NGOs………………….…………… 21
2.3.2 Public Sector source of funding local NGOs….………………….………… 22
2.3.3 Self Generating Income…….………………………………………………. 23
2.3.4 External funding for local NGOs...………………………………………… 23
2.3.5 Internal Funding of Local NGOs…………………………………………… 25
2.3.6 Perception of NGOs ………………………………………………………… 26
2.3.7 Advantage and Problems of NGOs………………………………………… 30
2.4 Women’s Rights……………………………………………………………….. 35
2.5 Universal Declaration of Human Rights……………………………………… 38
2.6 The Human Rights Covenant …………………………………………………. 39
2.7 Subsequent Human Rights Documents ……………………………………… 39
2.8 Role of NGOs ………………………………………………………………… 40
2.9 Women suffrage……………………………………………………………… 41
2.10 Women in the Economy …..…………………………………………………..44
2.11 Women and Politics ………………………………………………………… 45
2.12 Abantu for Development …………………………………………………… 48
2.13 Abantu: Vision and Mission ………………………………………………… 51
2.14 Core Objectives ……………………………………………………………… 52
v
2.15 Programme Implementation ………………………………………………… 53
2.16 Training and capacity-building ………………………………………………. 54
2.17 Research, Publication and Information ……………………………………
54
2.18 Institutional Development of Abantu ………………………………………
55
2.19 Training and capacity ………………………………………………………
55
2.20 Some violence Against Women ……………………………………….…… 57
2.21 Domestic Violence …………………………………………………………… 53
2.22 Female Genital Mutilation …………………………………………………… 59
2.23 Confinement of Witches ………………………………………………….... 60
2.24 Inheritance Rights ………………………………………………………….. 62
2.25 Strategies put in place by Abantu for development in protecting
women’s rights……………………...………………………………………… 64
2.26 Some achievement of Abantu for development ……………………………. 67
2.27 Major Achievements …………………………………………………………. 68
2.28Governance …………………………………………………………………… 69
2.29 Peace Building …………...………………………………………………….. 71
2.30 Women’s Manifesto ………………………………………………………… 72
2.31 The Use of the Quota system to promote Women’s rights in Ghana ………. 74
2.32 Factors Accounting for Women’s Low Participation in Politics …………… 75
2.33 Women’s Double Burden ………………………………………………….. 75
2.34 Lack of Support from society ……………………………………………… 76
2.35 Lack of Political Will……………………………………………………….. 76
2.36 Culture and Tradition ………………………………………………………. 77
2.37 Lack of funds and Resources ………………………………………………… 78
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY
3.1Research Design…………………………………………………………………79
3.2 Population of the study ……………………………………………………….. 82
3.3 Sample size…………………………………………………………………….. 82
3.4 Sampling technique…………………………………………………………… 82
vi
3.5 Instrumentation………………………………………………………………… 83
3.6 Interview……………………………………………………………………… 83
3.7 The Interview Guide ………………………………………………………… 84
3.8 Observation ……………………………………………………………………. 84
3.9 Documentary analysis ………………………………………………………… 84
3.10 Data collection Procedure……………………………………………………. 84
3.11 Validity …………………………………………………………………….85
3.12 Reliability ……………………………………………………………………. 86
3.13 Method of Data Analysis ……………………………………………………. .87
3.14 Limitations …………………………………………………………………… 87
CHAPTER FOUR: Analysis of Data and Discussion of Findings
4.0 Introduction…………………………………………………………………… 88
4.1 Preliminary data Analysis …………………………………………………… 88
4.2 Presentation and discussion of interview results ……………………………… 89
4.3 Research Question One ……………………………………………………… 90
4.4 Research Question Two ……………………………………………………… 91
4.5 Research Question three ……………………………………………………… 94
4.6 Research Question four ……………………………………………………… 94
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.0 Discussion……………………………………………………………………. 97
5.1 Women’s Awareness Level of Abantu’s Women’s Right Promotion ………. 98
5.2 Abantu’s achievements ……………………………………………………… 99
vii
5.3 Benefits from Abantu Programmes ………………………………………….. 100
5.4 Challenges That Abantu faces ………………………………………………. 101
5.5 Solution to the Challenges …………………………………………………… 101
5.6 Summary of Research findings ………………………………………………. 102
5.7 Conclusion Drawn ……………………………..……………………………… 103
5.8 Recommendations …………………………………………………………… 104
5.9 Suggestions for Further Research …………………………………………… 105
REFERENCES …………………………………………………………………… 106
APPENDICES……………………………………………………………………. 118
viii
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
AGE
Advocate for Gender Equality
AI
Amnesty International
AU
African Unions
CEDAW
Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against
Women
CHRAJ
Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice
CPP
Convention People’s Party
DOVVSU
Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit
FGM
Female Genital Mutilation
GFW
Ghana Federation of Women
GWL
Ghana Women’s League
ICESCR
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
ILGS
Local Government Studies
ILO
International Labour Organization
IMF
International Monitory Fund
NCCE
National Commission on Civic Education
NCGW
National Council of Ghana women
NGO
Non Governmental Organization
OAU
Organization of African Unity
PNDC
Provisional National Defense council
SAP
Structural Adjustment Programme
UDHR
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
UN
United Nations
UNDP
United Nations Development Plan
ix
LIST OF TABLES
Tables
Pages
Table 4.1
88
Distribution of respondents according to region
Table 4.2
89
Distribution of position of respondents
Table 4.3
90
Parents respondents’ knowledge on the specific objectives of
Abantu of development in Ghana.
x
ABSTRACT
Women constitute about half the world’s population yet, they are under-represented and
marginalized in all aspects of national life on account of traditional customs and practices
across the globe. There is sufficiently reasonable evidence supporting the assertion that
women have potentials which can be tapped to meaningfully enhance social, economic
and political development of nations.
The purpose of this study was to examine the role Abantu for Development, a nongovernmental organization, in the promotion of women’s rights in the ten regions of
Ghana.
The study made use of interviews and observations to gather data on the objectives of
Abantu for Development- Ghana, the accomplishments of the organization, the impact
of such accomplishments, challenges and problems associated with the organizations,
recommendations and suggestions regarding
conditions best to improve
on the
organization, aid delivery and also people’s perception about the sustainability of the
organization’s projects.
A sample size of fifteen (15) respondents
who were beneficiaries of Abantu for
Development programmes was used.
The findings of the study revealed the following ;

The objectives of Abantu as a non -governmental organization were well known
by some people residing in the regions.

Some women in the various regions were aware that Abantu has provided
empowerment programmes as well as in-service training to some women.
xi

Abantu has aided and increased the involvement of women in political leadership
role in the country.
The major problems militating against the effectiveness of Abantu for Development’s
programmes were poor participation of women at leadership training workshops.
Based on the findings of this research, recommendations were made on how best
women’s rights can be promoted in the country. Some of the recommendations were as
follows:

Appeals and subtle persuasions could be used to sensitize the local people and
induce their participation in the programmes organized by Abantu for
Development.

There should be the establishment of programmes and more institutions and
courses concerning women’s rights promotion at the first, second cycle and
tertiary educational levels. This will go a long way in educating students as they
grow.

The media and the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) should
regularly educate the general public on the rights of people especially those of the
women. Regular education will constantly remind people on the vulnerability of
women.
xii
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background to the Study
In Ghana and the world over, one major concern in governance is that of human rights,
and its issues became very prominent since the beginning of the 2nd world war. While
nations and societies developed, conflicts of ideas and interest emerged leading to various
clashes, intrigues and wars. The results were devastating, for instance, wars took the lives
of about 55 million people including 6 million Jews in the Nazi concentration camps
(Amnesty International, 2002). Faced with the largest catastrophes in human history, men
and women around the planet began to dream for a better peaceful world. A yawning
concern for human rights therefore arose from the dehumanizing effects of the second
world war which exhibited how humanbeings were cruel to each other.
In Ghana, the worst human rights abuse was recorded during the PNDC regime in 19811990. During those times, there was no guarantee against false arrest and imprisonment
without trial. Freedom of movement, expression and association were stultified. Not only
was freedom of assembly withdrawn, but the regime had the power to detain people for
as long as it felt it was in the interest of national security to do so. In the process the
detainees were subjected to inhuman treatment. Human beings vanished into thin air and
the sheer brutality and murder and pillage cowed many into the safety of silence and
surrender. Methods that were used to dehumanize people included solitary confinement,
detention in a brightly lit room in a manner whereby the culprit lost his sense of time as
1
well as night and day, cigarette burns applied on the male organs, mock executions, and
brutal assault and battery beyond human endurance (Oquaye, 2004).
Such tragedy compels one to ask “how can such events be avoided and what can be done
to help”? In response to the questions, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and
some political activists have been making efforts to prevent governments from flouting
the principles of human rights. Such NGOs have employed diverse strategies and have
enjoyed varying degrees of success.
Human rights, as defined by Banks (1990), is the right every man, woman or child has by
virtue of birthright, to live a dignified life that is free of poverty, illiteracy, cultural and
political repression. This means that rights are inherent or inborn to human nature without
any condition attached to their acquisition and they are not the preserve of any particular
person, persons or group. They are to be enjoyed by each individual irrespective of his or
her nationality. Again, it means that human rights are inalienable. Brown (1970)
explained inalienable rights as those rights which for any reason under any circumstances
cannot be denied. The rights of humans, especially women, are not respected. They are
trampled upon and this needs to be addressed (Coker Appiah ,2002).
In the eyes of the law, all are equal. But from history and from practice, women are
discriminated against. Women in Ghana are recognized under law as having the same or
equal rights with men in all spheres of life. It is stipulated in the 1992 Constitution of the
Republic of Ghana, Article 17, clause (1) and (2) that:
“All persons shall be equal, and that no one shall be discriminated against on grounds of
gender, race, colour, political opinion, ethnic origin, creed or social or Economic status”.
2
Furthermore, the law also affords women and men equal access to education,
employment and health and equal opportunity to participate in political and social acts of
the country. While both women and men have equal access to education, one finds that a
lot more men are educated than women which puts the literacy rate for men at 60% as
opposed to 30% for women with 10% of the population not in school (Coker-Appiah,
2002) .A significant percentage of girls who attend school also drop out and cannot go
further as the boys do. This is because when families are faced with poverty or financial
difficulties, they let the girls drop out of school and allow the boys to continue schooling
with the explanation that the office of a woman is the kitchen.
In addition, some policies,in the Ghana Education Service (GES) code of conduct, do not
support girls to continue their education when they become pregnant,but stand the chance
to continue after giving birth . For instance, teenage girls who become pregnant while in
school are made to drop out of school by school authorities while the teenage boy who
possibly impregnated her is made to continue his education. The implication of this
situation is the reverse of the inference from the assertion of Noor Akbar’s(2010), that a
nation can rise to its height of glory when its women are given equal opportunities like
the men.
Baah (2009) also posited that the low status of women is often supported by societal
structures such as religion, marriage and cultural norms. In most cultures, women are
often considered as inferior to men, and because of that women, are not made to talk in
public or invited when decisions are being taken even when such decisions concern them.
3
Again women in some countries are unable to acquire good jobs in formal sectors and the
few who find themselves there are also not well paid. This makes them dependent on the
men. This dependency reinforces their low status in the society and therefore makes them
susceptible to being controlled by men, and thus, putting them in a subservient position.
They are maltreated and discriminated against. Additionally, they are prevented or
prohibited from performing some activities like assuming political leadership roles and
opting to do certain jobs which are considered to be that of men.
Traditional and cultural practices which discriminate against women in Africa, relegate
all attempts by international, regional and national legislations that geared towards the
protection of the rights of women to the background. This is evident from such practices
as the customary inheritance and rites which widows are subjected to across the entire
continent. This situation is further aggravated by the fact that most widows who bear that
brunt of these discriminatory practices are those found mostly in the rural societies,
where illiteracy is high and ignorance of law (particularly written law) is rife.
Governments all over the world have become signitories to many of human rights
instruments that have come a long way in the protection of women. This is evident in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and more specifically the Convention
on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), among
others. At the regional level are African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (The
African Charter) and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights
4
(The women’s protocol to the African Charter) which made commendable strides in
protecting the rights of women in Africa.
The government of Ghana, both past and present, has also contributed immensely to
promote the rights of women in Ghana. Some of these contributions are either
constitutional or legislative. For instance, detailed and extensive provisions on human
rights were incorporated into the 1992 Constitution. The PNDC Law111 (the Intestate
Succession Law) was promulgated to benefit women and children after the death of a
father. For example, PNDC Law 111, in the absence of a will, the entire estates of the
deceased devolves to the next of kin. The compulsory beneficiaries are the children,
spouse and parents of the deceased.
Also the government has set up some legal institutions like the Domestic Violence and
Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the police unit, the Commission on Human Rights
and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE),
among others, to help promote rights. Baah (2009) was of the view that, inspite of all
these institutions, articles and constitution to protect the rights of women, there have been
brazen violations of women’s rights and freedoms and this can be traced to some cultural
practices like the Trokosi System practised by some ethnic groups, female genital
mutilation and widowhood rites among others.
Although the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana prohibits slavery, it exists on a
limited scale. Trokosi, a traditional practice found among the Ewe ethnic group and in
parts of the Volta Region, is an especially severe abuse and a flagrant violation of
5
children's and women's rights. It is a system in which a young girl, usually under the age
of 10, is made a slave to a fetish shrine for offenses allegedly committed by a member of
the girl's family. In rare instances, boys are offered. The belief is that, if someone in that
family has committed a crime, such as stealing, members of the family may begin to die
in large numbers unless a young girl is given to the local fetish shrine to atone for the
offense. The girl becomes the property of the fetish priest; she must work on the priest's
farm, and perform other labours for him. Because they are the sexual property of the
priest, most Trokosi slaves have children by him (Aird,2000). According to Sara Aird
(2000) a little over 5000 trokosi slaves are within Ghana, a figure which does not include
the slaves' children. When the fetish slave dies, the family is expected to replace her with
another young girl for the fetish shrine.
In 1998, Parliament passed a legislation that banned the practice of Trokosi in
comprehensive legislation to protect women and children's rights. Human rights activists
believe that the goal of eradicating the Trokosi practice is achievable with the new law.
NGOs, such as International Needs, and government agencies, like the CHRAJ, have
been campaigning against Trokosi for several years and are familiar with the locations of
the fetish shrines and the number of women and children enslaved. These NGOs and
agencies are also fighting to eradicate Female genital mutilation (FGM) and the
confinement of “witches” in a special camp at Gambaga, widowhood rites and other
human rights violations.
6
Coker et al (2000) posited that in some parts of Ghana, women are subjected to harmful
traditional practices which degrade them and are an infringement on their human rights.
These traditional practices are infringements on women’s rights because they make
women vulnerable to abuses. At times, even when a practice is supposed to be carried out
on both men and women, it is more severe on women. For instance, a man or woman
whose wife or husband dies is expected to go through certain rites. The reasons for these
rites vary among the different ethnic groups. Coker et al (2000), stated that, among some
groups, it is believed that undergoing these rites would prevent the deceased spouse’s
ghost from haunting the surviving spouse. In practice, whilst widows normally perform
these rites over days and months, widowers, when they perform the rites at all, do so over
a relatively short period. Some of the rites are very harsh and sometimes could lead to
serious health hazards on the widow. Pepper thrown into eyes of the widow could lead to
blindness. A rope tied around the neck of the widow whilst she is paraded around the
village, sometimes with no clothes on, is an affront to the dignity of the widow. Some of
the practices, such as female genital mutilation are carried out ostensibly to ensure the
morals of girls. Female genital mutilation is one such traditional practice that has been
medically proven to be harmful to women among others (Coker et al 2000).
Allah- Mensah (2005) reteriated that currently there are only 19 women in the 230
member parliament making up approximately only 9%. The low representation of women
in both number and substance in politics exerts pressure in two directions. First, it places
significant stress on the few women in such positions who must carry a huge burden of
making an impact with widespread positive implications for the majority, and secondly,
7
such situation contributes to lengthening the time taken for authorities to act, since the
few women in such positions need to reiterate their points and claims more forcefully
than their male counterparts. In other words, it takes longer for authorities to listen to and
act effectively on the demands of women in politically powerful positions. This provided
reasons for non-governmental organizations to move in with a host of interventions. The
main non-governmental organizations currently supporting the promotion and protection
of women’s rights in Ghana are ABANTU for Development, Amnesty International (AI),
Ark Foundation, and Advocates for Gender Equality (AGE), Mbaasem Foundation,
DANIDA, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Women in Law and
Development in Africa (WiLDAF) Ghana, and WISE, among others. These NGOs have
provided aids which have played important roles in promoting women’s rights. This is
done through empowerment, workshops, providing shelter and equipping women with
leadership skills to assume political roles.
In this research, the researcher investigated the efforts of ABANTU for Development in
promoting and protecting women’s rights focusing on their activities in Ghana. The
research also examined the extent to which the aims and objectives for establishing this
organization have been achieved and how they operate to promote women’s rights in
Ghana. ABANTU for Development was chosen for this research because of their visions
and missions to promote and protect the rights of women in Ghana.
1.2. Statement of the Problem
In the eyes of the law, both men and women have equal rights but, in practice, women are
far neglected and their rights trampled upon due to the fact they are vulnerable and
8
because of tradition. Discrimination against women, which is an aspect of human rights
violation, has become endemic in most parts of the country and is a national issue as
indicated by some agencies such as the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of
the Ghana Police Service and the Department of Social Welfare. Reports gathered from
Cape Coast and its environs reveal that out of the cases reported at DOVVSU, assult
accounted for 565, defilement 125 and rape 26 in the year 2007 from January to
December. It is making the women very timid even to assume certain roles in the society
and it is destroying the capabilities of women everyday. The observed phenomena of
women robbed of their property, women running away to escape female genital
mutilation, exempting women from assuming certain roles in the societies, women not
allowed to pursue higher education, women beaten in homes and public are all hints to
the fact that women’s rights are trampled upon.
It is about time that the government of the country and all governments around the globe
recognized that the world cannot be whole without the help and participation of
women.This calls for a scientific research into the contributions of Abantu For
Development towards the development emancipation of women, hence this research to
put structures in place to reverse the trend.
1.3. Purpose of the Study
The purpose of the study was to examine the extent to which the selected NGO, the
Abantu for Development, has achieved its objectives of helping to promote the rights of
9
women in the country, its operational strategies and activities and challenges it faces in
pursuing its objectives.
1.4 Objectives
The objectives of the study were:

Ascertain the level of awareness of women’s human rights promotion objectives
of Abantu in Ghana.

Assess the achievements of Abantu for Development in the area of promotion of
women in Ghana.

Find out what activities and operational strategies Abantu for Development has
put in place to achieve its set objectives of promoting women’s rights in Ghana.

Investigate the challenges facing Abantu for Development in the course of
pursuing its human rights promotion objectives.
1.5 Research Questions
The research was guided by the following research questions:
1. 1.To what extent are women aware of the human rights promotion objectives of
Abantu in Ghana?
2. To what extent has the Abantu for Development achieved its set of objectives in
women human rights promotion in Ghana?
3. 3.What activities and operational strategies has Abantu for Development put in
place to promote the rights of women in the country?
10
4. 4.What are some of the challenges faced by Abantu in the pursuance of its women
rights promotion set of objectives?
1.6 Significance of the Study
The findings of the study when made available are hoped to expose women and the
female students at all educational levels to know their rights and help the community
members to know that some practices they regard as cultural and traditional are indeed
human rights abuse.
Again, the facts provided on what ABANTU for Development has been doing in the
promotion of women’s rights in both urban and rural communities would add to the
reference materials that can inform stakeholders in the some legal institutions like
DOVVSU, CHRAJ, the courts and other women’s rights institutions in the country on the
services NGOs provide to the basic sector of human rights.
Adding to the above, the study is hoped to reveal the benefits of the training given by
ABANTU for Development and the support gestures to the trainees with the view of
influencing policies of other agencies towards what they can do to improve the rights
levels of women in Ghana.
Men are also going to be exposed to the rights of women and to accord and treat women
with respect at all times.
The findings will help the government and the Ghana Education Service in particular to
see the need to incorporate the teaching of the subject human rights in school syllabus
11
from the basic level to the tertiary level to meet the needs of the women in the country.
The study would also serve as a basis for further research.
1.7 Delimitation
The researcher limited her study to only the staff of ABANTU for Development,and
beneficiaries of the programmes organized by ABANTU for Development. This includes
assembly women and women with political ambitions in some of the districts of the
regions in Ghana.
1.8 Definition of Terms
Non Governmental Organization(NGO)
NGOs are voluntary organizations that work and very often on behalf of others (donors)
and their work and activities are focused on issues concerning deprived people in society
that government finds difficulties to help, such as Abantu for Development, Ark
Foundation, Advocates for Gender Equality (AGE)
Marginalization; this refers to the overt or convert trends within societies where by
those perceived as lacking desirable traits or deviating from the group norms tend to be
excluded or under-represented in the scheme of things in all areas of human endearvours
by the larger dominant groups in the society in such a way that the dominated or
oppressed groups suffer all manners of deprivations in the society.
Violence is the use of physical and psychological force to cause injury, damage or death.
Women’s rights they are the entitlements and freedoms that are recognised for women
and girls of all ages by the Ghanaian constitution and which constitutionally recognised
12
agencies, individuals and groups in the Ghanaian society are expected to observe, protect
and promote in all areas of human interactions and endeavour in Ghana.
Women’s suffrage; the rights of women to vote.
Womens right promotion: a way of bringing the rights of women to light
Womens rights violation ; not respecting the rights and trempling on them.
1.9 Organization of the Work
The study is presented in five chapters. Chapter one contains the introduction comprising
of the background to the study, definition of terms, statement of the problem, purpose of
the study, research questions, significance of the study, delimitation, and organization of
the work.
Chapter two contains review of related literature. Literature is reviewed on the history of
women’s rights, what women’s rights are, history of NGOs and non governmental
assistance to the promotion of women’s rights in Ghana, evolution of NGOs and their
emergence in Ghana the features of NGOs activities the characteristic features of NGOs
activities the programmes and achievements women empowerment, profile of Abantu for
Development, abuses and the types. The chapter concludes with literature on the profile
of Abantu for Development its objectives mission visions and a review of its
accomplishments.
Chapter three describes the methodology applied in the study, explaining the research
design, the population, and the sample and sampling procedure, the instruments used in
data collection their validity and reliability, and the methods used in analyzing the data.
13
Chapter four presents the findings of the study by way simple qualitative analysis
involving frequencies and percentages that show the relative magnitudes of various
responses obtained from the administration of the questionnaire. The chapter also
expresses other findings obtained through interviews and observations by the researcher.
Chapter five presents the summary of the findings and discussion of findings as well as
recommendations and suggestions for further studies.
14
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 Introduction
This chapter discusses literature related to the topic. Related literature is reviewed under
the following the evolution of non governmental organizations, sources of finance of
NGOs, perceptions of NGOs activities, advantages and problems of NGO interventions,
studies conducted on some activities of NGOs in Ghana, womens rights, women in
politics, Abantu for Development, domestic violence, strategies for protecting womens
rights in Ghana,and the achievements of Abantu for Development
2.1 The evolution of Non-Governmental Organisations
The NGO sector has become a worldwide exploration which is increasingly responding
to the political, social, economic and environmental needs of the vulnerable and the
disadvantaged in our communities. According to Lekorwe (2007), the term NGO is very
broad and ambiguous which covers a range of organization within the civil society, from
political action groups to sports clubs. The concepts NGO came into existence in 1945
following the extablishment of the United Nations Organization which recognized the
need to give a consultative role to organizations which were classified as neither
government nor member states (Willet, 2002, Lekorwe (2007) argued that the clear
definition of NGO still remains contested.
According to Teegan et al (2004), quoting from the United Nations (2003), described an
NGO as any non profit, voluntary citizens group which is organized on a local, national
15
or international level and is tasked oriented and driven by people with a common interast.
Holloway (2001) also defined NGOs as a group of organizations distinct from
government institutions and business organizations. They are formed to complement,
supplement and offer alternatives to government development efforts.
Similarly, Edwards (2000), defines NGOs as a subset of civic organizations defined by
the fact that
they are formally registered with government, receive a significant
promotion of their income from voluntary contribution and are governed by a board of
trustee rather than the elected representative of a constituency. The world Bank (1995),
also argue that NGOs are private organizations that pursue activities to relieve suffering,
promote the interest of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social service
and undertake community development.
From all the definitions above ,it can be deduced that NGOs does not form part of
government institutions but they are voluntarily made not to make profit and independent
which promote development for the under privileged in our various communities. Helen
et al (2005) is also with the view that NGO refers to local indigenous organisations that
included national NGOs Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) and Community Based
Oganisations (CBOs) whose activities fall within the functional categories of advocacy
and service delivery. Such organizations are run and owned by nationals. They are
formed on their own initiative, rather than donors in respose to the plethora of
development problems confronting their county (Trurary 2002).
Globally, NGOs started springing up in the early 19th century in the industralised country
(Bridget 1997). Bridget (1997) observes that members of such organizations were mainly
16
from the middle and wealth classes whose chief concern was the provision of welfare to
the poor in their societies. Later in the 19th century the philanthropist who run the
charities found the need to look beyond welfare as more and more issues became
recoganised, accordingly groups were formed to promote advocacy and raised public
awareness on political and human rights issues (Bridget 1997). A memorable effects of
the activities of such groups was the abolition of the obnoxious slave trade. This action
among others added a new dimension to NGOs activities, and propelled them into
involvement in development issues.
Issa (2005) reveals that NGOs in Africa flourished in 1980s and 1990s as a result of
structural adjustment
programme initiated by international financial institution and
development agencies such as the World Bank and International Monetary Funds. NGOs
grew at this period to take the work of the retrenching state that had been persuaded to
disengage from the provision of social service to its population.
Issa (2005), further argues that the bilateral and multilateral institutions set aside
significant funds aimed at mitigating social dimensions of adjustment. Decades of world
wide recessions, political instability, increasing national debts, poverty and disease,
natural disasters and environmental degradation are some of the changes in the world
which have made the activities of NGOs possible. In Ghana, the voluntary activities were
self help (Nnoboa system) nature, according to Bridget (1999) the famous nnoboa system
in some traditional communities in Ghana was one of first forms of self help activities
which found expression in groups of people working to solve common problems
affecting them.
17
Bob-Miller (2005), reveals that NGOs in Ghana originated as church assistance by the
missionaries with the Ghanaian model
noboa or self help system. These organizations were entirely owned and managed by the
local people and were aimed at promoting indigenous people’s welfare.
Bridget (1997) maintains that Christian missionaries also contributed to the growth of
NGOs by establishing schools and clinics in remote areas and in some of the more
crowded urban centers in Ghana. In the 1950 more voluntary organizations spear headed
by foreign organizations were established in Ghana. Notable among these are the Red
Cross Society, the Society for the Blind and the Society for the Prevention of
Tuberculousis. These organizations were formed principally in response to problems
perculiar to the urban areas.
Shortly after independence the focus of NGOs activities in Ghana gradually shifted
towards development. Thus helping to develop the rural areas. According to Gyamfi
(2005) available statistics indicated that the emergence and growth of NGOs in Ghana
was very slow as indicated in the table below.
2.2 Growth of NGOS in Ghana
YEAR
NUMBER OF NGOS
1930
3
1980
80
1996
320
1999
945
2008
5000
Source:
Bob Millier (2005) and GNA (2008)
18
From the table, in 1930 only three NGOs had officially been registered and the number
increased in 1980 to 80. In December 1996, 320 NGOs both foreign and local were
operating in Ghana (Bob Milliar 2005). The Department of Social Welfare in 1999
registered 900 local NGOs and about 45 foreign NGOs (Bob Milliar 2005). As at January
2008 5000 NGOs both local and foreign had registered with the Ministry of Manpower
and Social Welfare (DNA 2008), a healthy sign that the NGO concept was gaining
ground in the country.
Turary (2002), posits that the growth of NGO sector in Ghana coincided with a
downward trend in political and socio-economic environment and it became obvious that
government needed assistance in promoting development and the welfare for the poor.
The upsurge of political upheaval from 1972 to 1981 triggered and economic depression
that aggravated the already poor condition of social infrastructure in Ghana in the sector
such as health , education and housing (Gyamfi, 2002).
There is now a wide diversity of ngos operating in Ghana (Porter 2003).with the
improvement in communications, more local ngo and locally based groups, referred to as
grass-roots organizations or community based organizations have become active at the
national or even the global level. They are gradually taking over the role of facilitating
grass-roots or local development. (Trurary, 2002) NGOS are increasing through the
formation of partnerships for particular goods.
19
2.3 Sources of Finance of NGO
To appreciate the challenges of financial sustainability it is necessary to understand the
potential sources of revenue for the NGO sector (More 2005). While there is of course
tremendous variation in the sources of NGO revenue among countries and NGO within
any sector, there are at the same time identifiable trends of NGO financing. In their study
of East African local NGOs, Senboga and Therkildsen (1995) cited in Barr et al ( 2005)
also emphasize the role of international donor in local NGO funding.
Lee (1997) also revealed that there are three sector from which NGOs can derive their
resources. These are the private sector, the general and governments/public sector
Resources from each of these sectors can originate from both external sources (i.e.
international) and local (i.e. domestics or municipal public and private donors) More
(2005) in similar vein indicates that NGO revenue falls within three broad categories.
They include government funding, private giving and self generated income. The authors
found that 10 percent of the local NGOs funding comes from private charitable giving,43
percent comes from government support and public sector payments including grants and
contracts, and 47 percent come from private fees and payments often originating in the
sale of services or products. According to the authors, reliance on private fees moves the
organizations away from their charitable roots and puts them in direct competition with
private businesses.
In 2003, the John Hopkins University comparative non profit sector project (cited in more
2005) published a comparative analysis on global civil society based on research in 35
countries on the sources of NGO income. It revealed that ,
20
1. Self generated income was the dominant source of revenue for NGOs accounting
for 43% of local NGOs total income.
2. Private giving- that is individual,cooperate and foundation based accounting for
30%.
3. Government or public sector support also ranks as a significant source of NGO
income constituting 27%.
Barr et al (2005)in their study of local NGOs in Uganda identified that the NGO sector
grants received from international NGO account and for nearly half of the total funding in
2007 in Uganda. Grants from bilateral donors are the next most important source with
grants from the local government being the third. The average NGO is less likely to
receive funding from these three sources and more likely to depend on non grant income.
On self generated income, the authors identified that only one third of NGOs own a
business, the profit of which is used to finance NGO activities. Again Barr et al (2005)
observed a high concentration with a small number of NGOs accounting for most of these
businesses. The three sources of funding are discussed below.
2.3.1 Private sector source of funding local NGOs
In countries where there is some economic growth recorded with a presence of a vibrant
private sector, NGOS look upon the corporate agencies as major sources of funding.
These corporate groups according to Lotsmart (2007) have corporate social responsibility
(CRS) agenda for enhancing equity, social justice and development. Private giving
usually comes in the form of cash and in kind donations from individuals, business and
foundations or other grant making legal entities. The effort of volunteers may also be
21
considered donations and can be embrace by the concept of philanthropy. Another source
of funding for NGOs is from the private charities Foundations International Organization
that are more privately handled and have a better focus on equipping local NGOs. It
provides financial and technical resources to them. Donations and gifts, mostly from
individuals or informed groups are also sources of funding for NGOs. According to
Lotsmart (2007) donations comes from individuals or groups such as churches,
foundations and privates firms. They may take the form of cash or in kind materials.
2.3.2 Public sector source of funding local NGOs
The local government are a major source of findings as they have different community
welfare and raise resource schemes which NGOs can apply and raise resource and
implements project.
Government funding includes a broad range of direct and indirect support (Gyamfi 2000)
the UNDP (1993 cited in Lotsmart 2007) instead that one third of NGOs funding come
from government through varied degrees such as subsidies, government grant, and
contracting. Exemptions from taxation can be considered a government subsidy. During
the last term of Clinton (United State President 1993. 2000) administration for example
the white House support to NGOs increased from 13 percent to 50 percent through
USAID assistance. In addition most embassies of development countries residing in the
developing countries fund NGOs (Lotsmart 2007)
22
2.3.3 Self generating income
Self guaranteed income includes membership dues, fees and charges for services as well
as income from investment. According to More (2005) NGOs are able to engage directly
in economic activities, within certain defined limitations, incomes from their economic
activities are exempted from taxation, albeit to a limited extent. According to Gyamfi
(2002) the sources of funds for local NGOs identified above are from both external and
internal sources. The external source can come from governments, cooperation’s etc.
whilst internal source can also come from government, corporations and business income
as discussed below.
2.3.4 External funding for local NGOs
The search for external funding is necessary for the survival and development of local
NGOs (fernand 2006). According to Liang (2003 cited in Andreas, 2005) the availability
of international funding sources is sorely indispensible in the initial stage of local NGO
sector Contributing to the discussion Lotsmart (2007) noted that NGOS in Cameroon
are principally funded externally. They seek support from Government cooperation the
related private sector and enrich individuals willing to help.
Barr et al (2005) in their study of local NGO in Uganda argue that the NGO sector grants
received from international NGOs account for nearly half of the total funding in 2001.
Grants from bilateral donors are the next most important source with grants from the
local government being the third. Fafchamp and Truchy (2006) observed that grants
represent about 80% of local NGOs funding in Uganda.
23
In his study of challenges of NGOs in Anglophore Cameroon, Lotsmart (2007) revealed
that dependency of local NGOs on external funding depicts mixed result of possible
impact on the lives of local NGO and the states as a whole. Lotsmart (2007) argues that
external funding through state or local Ngo strengthen. North-south relationship.
Lotsmart (2007) further argues that external funding through local Ngo provides
opportunity of apprenticeship development. What this implies is that local NGOs can sit
back and learn the art of financial management and project management and experience
external NGOs.
In contrast Liany (2003) cited in Andreas, 2005) however reveals that strong dependency
from external funding can be a serious problem for the long term development of local
NGOs.
The author further maintains that international donor operate according to their own goals
and project management style and local NGOs have to conform to their requirement in
order to receive financial support.
Similarly in the view of Fernand (1994 cited in Fernand 2006) an NGO which receives
more that 30% of its funding through an external agency is not free in its action and
above this percentage, the NGO could find its self in a very difficult situation in case of
separation between the NGO and the donor due to strategic factor.
Turary (2002) stated that in a situation where a greater proportion of an organization
funding comes from external sources, it will have an effect on the long run in the case of
redrawal of external funding.
This means that any organization that depends on external funding will not be in a
position to finance some of its initiated and laudable project.
24
This makes the NGO difficult to accomplish their stated objectives.
2.3.5 Internal funding of local NGOs
As foreign funding declines, local NGOs are increasingly looking to domestic sources of
support (Warnor 2008) internal revenues can also have several sources which include;
member’s contribution, donations from friends and sympathizers sharing the same values.
Enrolment fee, income from publication etc. According to Fernand (2006) rarely will
local NGO get more than 20% of their income from this source so not always used.
Supporting this claim and Fafchamps and Trudy (2000) revealed that internal and local
funding in local NGO in Uganda account for less than 3% of their local revenue. In his
study of sustainability of local NGOs in Ghana, Turary (2002) observed that used Youth
Development Foundation on local NGO in Kumasi raised 7% of its income internally
through individual and cooperates bodies donation while external source from donor
agencies and international foundations accounted for 93% of the total income of the
organization in 2001. Andreas (2005) argues that Chinese local NGOs faced serious
problem when trying to raise funds from the Chinese population or from private
enterprises. The reason for this situation according to Andreas (2005) are that china’s
local NGOs lack effective institutional structure for charitable contribution and do not
have a strong philanthropic culture such as Western society. This means that on average
between 80% of Chinese local NGOs funding comes from international sources such as
foreign government and international NGOs or foundation. Huang Haonineg (cited in
2005) reports that his organization receives nearly 100% of its funding from overseas
source.
25
In contrast Bailey (1999) argues that environmental NGOs in Brazil generated an
impressive 80% of their income domestically from corporate bodies and individuals
philanthropist. NGOs raising funds from both external and internal for their operation
used a variety of methods.
2.3.6 Perceptions of NGOs activities
People are always suspicious about the programmes, activities and funding of the
programmes. Miller Grandvux, Welmond and Wolfs (2003) in a study conducted in East
Africa on NGOs interactions asserted that there are controversies and suspicions among
civil society regarding whom NGOs are and whose interest they represent. The same
source further stated that because NGOS are often used by donors as contractors, most
governments and other stakeholders are suspicious of NGOs and their motives, they may
be seen to carry out donor hidden agencies that may not be in line with government
agenda. Apparently, some governments would have preferred that donor funds go
through the government sector rather than through private NGOs. However in interviews
conducted in Ethiopia, Guinea, Malawi and Mali under the USAID/ SARA project in
January 2003, donors said they prefer funding NGOs to funding governments to
implement educational programmes for the following basic reasons:
NGOs are easier to negotiate, draw up contracts and agreements with than government.
NGOs do not content with bureaucracy, politics and other realities of public sector.
NGO achieve more measurable and cost effective results than government.
Donors felt that NGOs costs tend to be lower than governments and those NGOs can
meet deadlines better. But according to Achampong (2004), a major setback of funding
projects by NGOs rather than government is on sustainability of these projects. Working
26
through NGOs raises the question of who will continue as a donor when financed NGO
implemented projects end. Unlike an NGO, a government is essentially a permanent
institution. Yet if the government has not been involved in the donor financed project, it
is likely that it will not invest in the projects continuation, and the community alone may
not be able to shoulder the burden.
The controversies raised have led to frustrations of NGOs by governments and according
to the USAID / SARA project (2003) in many cases of African countries government
have attempted to regulate NGOs work and legitimacy by the following means.

NGOs are to register with the government. If NGO legitimacy is gained only
through government approval, then the government could restrict or even prohibit
that NGO from functioning.

Government defines NGOs areas of intervention. It could be by geographical area
usually the disadvantaged or remote sites are where NGOs are authorized to
operate. It could also be the scope or types of interventions-usually governments
prefer that NGOs conduct social mobilization.

The NGOs after registering with the ministry of manpower and development for
certification and monitoring including the rendering of accounts, some NGOs that
are not registered yet there are over 2000 NGOs in the country, only 68 have
complied with the government regulations ( TV 3 news, March 26, 2004 ).
Aside the problem of government’s acceptance of NGOs as legitimate organization, the
activities of NGOs come with many other challenges emanating from the side of donors.
Donor funding usually come with restrictions or other strings attached. The most
important constraints concern financial and management requirements. NGOs must meet
27
donor demands accountability and so they are compelled to spend significant resources
on reporting. Again, donors often anticipate their results even before the NGO is selected.
This means that NGOs have less leeway to experiment than if the funding arrangement
were more flexible.
According to Fowler (1990) even though the government has been at the forefront of
raising the standard of education and promoting the rights of women through education ,
state policies are rather highly centralized and so the NGOs seems to address the issues
better especially in the rural areas owning to the community participation.
Acheampong (2004) asserts that NGOs jump into education because the top- down
approach national system of education does not give much consideration to the special
needs of certain sections of the population who live under every different and difficult
socio economic and demographic environment. The source further indicated that NGOs
in many cases have been successful at initiating a basic to education programmes that
takes into account local characteristics of rural communities to achieve results that seem
to motivate self help efforts at the grass root level.
Based on this assertion, it can be deduced that these NGOs are into the promotion,
protection and empowerment of women and have the aim of raising the standards of
women since the government has so much to do and has therefore neglected women to
their fate. In so doing women can take certain vital decisions concerning themselves and
women can also be included in the decision making process. The USAID / SARA project
(2003) report under why NGOs want to strengthen civil society is that NGOs are able to
28
develop stronger education system by adopting a method that builds the capacity of
citizens to form networks of responsibilities and increasing local involvement in
education. The consensus therefore is that NGOs interventions is basically explained by
the inability of governments in developing countries to institute strategies that respond
satisfactorily to the challenges of improving access to quality and standards of women in
the various communities.
Awid (2008) however posits that many governments have fallen short of delivering the
outcomes to which they have committed themselves during the Beijing Platform Action.
Lack of democracy and intricate mechanisms on political, economic, social, legal and
cultural manipulation that aim to control women sexuality forestall the full
implementation of the various NGOs for the full realization of gender equality in our
societies.
Women’s nonprofit organizations have long played an important role in the lives of most
women in the world. Most NGOs in Ghana deals with women’s rights or are directly
involved in providing services for women. Although legislation in Ghana does in most
instances protect and promote women’s rights such as free education, prohibition of child
labor etc, NGO intervention aids in enforcing such rights. (Sinha and Commuri 1998).
Furthermore, NGO proliferation can often be after the political context in which women
live and function (Fisher, 1998).
In view of the situation, Miller Grandvaux and Yoder (2002) affirms that, with in the last
two decades alternative routes to basic education established with aid money have
mushroomed all over developing countries and have been effective particularly in Africa
29
where the strategy has always been to help improve basic literacy and numeracy skills of
children with the local community playing an active and management and supervisory
role.
2.3.7 Advantages and Problems of NGO Intervention
Some advantages of NGOs jumping in with interventions using the taxonomy from the
1998 DFID Civil society consultation paper (DFID 1999 b) are as following;
NGOs have adequate funding and are more able to institutionalize strategies that respond
satisfactorily in the challenges of promoting and protecting the rights of women.
NGOs are able to raise voluntary contribution of funds, labour and expertise for service
to poor and marginalized group which are those most difficult for government to reach.
Programmes organized by NGOs have a higher degree of community support and
supervision and better adaption to local conditions.
By engaging community movements in project / programmes financially, physically, time
and labour, NGOs are able to stimulate public interest in educational issues and
standards. This result in raising awareness of poor people to their right and engaging
them toward achieving these rights, many NGOs have high degree of experience and
general capacity for educational reforms. They are able to provide or supplement training
for less experienced government sector staff, they can also help to assess the operation
and impact of government policies and programmes with the benefit they have channels
accountabilities independent of government.
30
NGOs staff have a high motivation than government when working in poor and deprived
difficult environment.
NGOs can be faster and more flexible than governments in responding to crises situation.
NGOs involve the “grass root” can seek out the voices of the poor and articulate this
message and the general demand for education to the various levels of government.
Strengthening the voice of the disadvantage marginalized group to speak for the
educational needs and influence decision makers to design, adopt and change polices and
practices in favour of poor marginalized people.
The advantages spelt out not withstanding the NGOs with such good intention have
numerous problems. Digby Swift (2000) enumerates the following problems that may be
associated with evolving NGOs in empowering women. Some NGOS represent vested
interest in special group and not necessarily those requiring priority attentions. NGOs
purportedly dedicated to the advancement of education, can in practice provide power
base for local elite or for individuals to boost their private political or other interest.
These same NGOs are not necessarily a constructive developmental force because they
do not seek to channel resources to the poor and marginalized to ensure the participation
of the poorest in education.
NGOs can be most affective where they are well coordinated with each other and the
government. Unfortunately this is seldom the case by nature their funding many NGOs
are in competition with each other. NGOs may by pass the poorest member of the
community and in some cases actually increase the marginalization of the poorest.
31
An independent evaluation programme (ESIP) noted school building projects in which
NGOs providing grand demanded a financial contribution from the community to
motivate and mobilize the contribution. In these cases the poorest did not access the
grant. Instead such programmes selected communities according to their readiness and
motivation that is their ability to mobilize resource within the required time frame. The
NGOs were inadvertently serving the better off getting up parallel programmes which
actually required a lighter level of contribution than the government system Seel (1999).
The commonest strategy adopted by NGOs is to ensure that their projects are
sustainable is the involvement of the community in the implementation of the projects.
Acheampong (2004) confirms that many NGOs try to promote the spirit of self-help
efforts among poor rural people using strategies that encourage community participation
and ownership of NGO-initiated projects.
Plomp and Thijs (2003) rather underscore the importance of financial sustainability as
necessary consideration in any sustainable self –help education innovation. The source
however recognizes, by the very nature of NGOs they can only guarantee funding during
the life of the projects they initiate and cannot be relied upon to continue supporting local
initiatives indefinitely. Thus even though NGOs have been successful at initiating basic
education, programmes that take into account local characteristic of rural communities
and have achieved results that seem to motivate self-help efforts at the grass root level,
the sustainability of such projects have been largely precarious.
32
Again it is argued that some reasons on the setbacks of using NGOs to provide routes to
improve the standard of women with regards to sustainability are as follows:

First of all the way in which some aid assisted projects are constructed can
effectively replace the will of local people and create an unsustainable
dependency Ellerman (2002). This normally occur when the people are either
involved in neither planning nor execution of the projects.

Again NGOs effort to provide the rights of women tends to be short term
initiatives and crucially the efforts do not link very well to the formal system
making many dead end (World Bank, 2003).
The difficulties NGOs face in forging closer relationship with government authorities are
often attributed to the layers of bureaucracy that existed in government institutions and
suspicion over motives and psychological distance created as result of certain conditions
of service that personnel of NGOs enjoy Acheampong (2004). Upon the frustrations that
these NGOs face when dealing with government authorities some of the NGOs find ways
around government institutions to ensure aid funded services reach poor people, Reeks
(2004) but as is correctly noted by the world Development Report (2003) such action
simply assigns the project to history when external funding dries up because local
government institutions simply ignore them once they are completed.
Looking at the role NGOs play to motivate people to help themselves especially women
in the rural communities, there should be a support system to provide assistance to ensure
that these NGOs are always sustained to continue their good works. Acheampong (2004)
suggest that, it seems best for this responsibility to be shouldered by local government as
33
they have the mandate to source central government funding and raise additional funds
locally, thus, that calls for a closer relationship and partnership between NGOs and local
government authorities. As noted already the ability of NGOs to have a closer
relationship with the government comes with several frustrations. Several suggestions
have been made as to how this friction may be resolved. Digby Swift (2000) suggest that
the biggest block to effective government –NGO relationship is lack of trust and this can
be overcome by transparency and information sharing on both sides. Fullan (2000) also
suggest that since NGOs are working with systems they should find means of
conceptualizing strategies with whole systems in mind and figuring out the best
relationship.The key therefore according to Acheampong (2004) is for NGOs to find
healthy and productive ways of engaging with local government authority by adopting
strategies and boost their institutional and sensitize them into adopting their operators to
meet the needs of poor communities in society.
To bridge this gap, that is why the NGOs in Ghana are to register with the Ministry of
Manpower and Development for certificate, tax exemptions and monitoring. This can
pave way for government to relate cordially with them (Reeks, 2000).
Additionally, the 1992 Republican Constitution of Ghana gives backing to a
decentralized policy of local government administration by establishing District
Assemblies which receive district funding from central government through a district
assembly common fund. Thus if NGOs work assiduously to mainstream their
organization capacity and flexibility into local government structures, and institutions,
they may be able to influence policies that shape how money is to be spent to promote
34
rights of women in the districts and countries at large. In this wise, self help efforts
initiated by NGOs in poor rural communities could be sustained by soliciting local
government assistance.
2.4 Women’s Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General
Assembly in 1948 outlines what is considered in this century to be the fundamental
consensus on the human rights of all people in relation to matters as torture, protection of
the law, security of persons, slavery, freedom of movement and speech, religion and
rights to social security, work, health education, culture and citizenship. The UDHR
clearly outline that these rights apply to all equally without distinction of any kind such
as race, colour, sex, language or other statues (Art.2). This implies that the human right
delineated by the UDHR should be understood as applying to women.
However tradition, prejudice, social economic and political interest have combined to
exclude women from prevailing definitions of general human rights and to relegate
women to secondary and/or special interest statues within human rights consideration.
This marginalization of women in the world of human rights has been a reflection of
gender inequality in the world at large and has also had a formidable impact on women’s
lives. It has contributed to the perpetuation and indeed the condoning of women’s
subordinate status. It has limited the scope of what was seen as governmental
responsibility and thus has made the process of seeking redress for human rights violation
disproportionately difficult for women and is many cases outright impossible. The
believe that every one by virtue of his humanity is entitled to certain human rights is
35
fairly new. It usually stems from the earlier tradition and documents of many cultures; it
took the catalyst of world war 11 to propel human rights onto the global stage and in to
the global conscience.
Since time
immemorial people acquire rights and responsibilities through their
involvement in groups of their choice or by orientation – a family, indigenous nation,
class , community, religion or the state at large of which the societies are structured and
governed y the golden rule that do unto others as you will have others do unto you. The
Babylonian code of Hammurabi, Quoran, the Hindu Vedas, the Bible and the Analects of
Confucius are five of the oldest written source which seeks to address the duties, rights
and the responsibilities of man. Further more, the Inca and Aztec codes of conduct and
justice and an Iroquois constitution were Native American sources that existed well
before the 18th century. The various societies under the sun have a system of propriety
and justice as well as ways of lending to the health and welfare of their members.
All the documents asserting the individual rights of the people such as the English Bill of
Rights (1989), the French declaration of the bill of rights of men and Citizes (1989), the
Magna Carta (1215) and the US constitution and the bill of rights of (1791) are the
written documents which are the precursors to many of today’s human rights documents.
Although all the documents exist women were excluded people of colour and members of
certain social, economic, religious and political groups. Nevertheless, oppressed people
throughout the world today have drawn on the principles of these documents express to
support revolutions that assert the right to self determination Shiman (1998).
36
The present day human rights laws and the establishment of the UN have important
historical antecedents. The contributions made in the 19th century to prohibit the slave
trade and to limit the horrors of wars are prime examples to that. The establishment of the
International Labour Organization (ILO) to oversee treaties protecting workers with
respect to their rights, including their health and safety of people. All the concerns that
were raised to protect certain minorities or vulnerable groups were raised by the League
of Nations at the end of the First World War. The international peace and cooperation
created by the victorious European allies never achieved it goals Shiman (1998). This can
be attributed to the fact that the US refused to join and because the league failed prevent
Japans invasion of China and Manchuris (1931) and Hallys attached on Ethiopia (1935).
Finally it dead with the onset of the Second World War in (1939).
The idea of human rights emerged stronger after the World War 2. The examination by
the Nazi Germany over six million Jews, Sinti and Romani (gypsies) homosexuals and
persons with disabilities horrified the world. Trials were held in Nuremberg and Tokyo
and officials from the defeated countries were punished for committing war crimes
against peace and crimes against humanity Shiman (1998). Because of the eruptions
government then committed themselves to establish the united nation with the aim of
bolstering international peace and preventing conflict. People wanted to ensure that never
again would anyone be unjustly denied life, freedom, food, shelter and nationality. The
essence of these emerging human rights principles were captured in president Franklin
Delano Roosevelts (1941) state of union address when he spoke of a world founded on
four essential freedoms: freedom of speech and religion and freedom from want and fear.
According to Shiman (1998) the call came from across the globe for human rights
37
standards to protect citizens from abuses by their governments, standard against which
nations could be held accountable for the treatment of those living within their boarder.
Those voices played a critical role in the San Francisco meeting that drafted the UN
Charter in 1945.
2.5 Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The member state of the UN pledged to promote respect for the human rights of all and to
advance this goal, the UN establish a commission on Human rights and charged it with
the task of drafting a document spelling out the meaning of fundamental rights and
freedoms proclaimed in the charter. The commission which was guided by Eleanor
Roosevelts forceful leadership captured the worlds attention in 1948 in the UDHR was
adopted by the 56 members of the UN. The vote was unanimous although eight nations
chose to abstain. The UDHR also referred to as the international Magna Carta, extended
the revolution in international law ushered in by the UN charter- namely that how a
government treats its own citizens is now a matter of legitimate international concern and
not simply a domestic issue. It claims that all rights are interdependent and indivisible. Its
preamble eloquently asserts that recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and
inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom,
justice and peace in the world.
According to Shiman (1998) the influence of the UDHR has been substantial in that it
principles have been incorporated into the constitutions of most of the more than 185
nations now in the UN. Even though the UDHR is not a legally binding document; it has
38
really achieved the status of customary international law because people regard it as: a
common standard of achievement for all people and all nations.
2.6 The Human Rights Covenant
In order to ensure the enforcement of the UNHR the UN commission on Human rights
proceeded to draft two treaties: the international covenant on Civil and political rights
(ICCPR) and its optional protocol and the international covenant on economic, social and
cultural rights (ICESCR). Together with the UDHR, they are commonly referred to as the
international bill of human. The rights ICCPR focuses on such issues as the rights to life,
freedom of speech, religion and voting. The ICESCR focuses on such issues as food,
education health and shelter. Both covenant trumpet the extensions of rights to all persons
and prohibit discrimination.
2.7 Subsequent Human Rights Document
In addition to the covenants in the international bill of human right, the UN has adopted
more than 20 principal treaties further elaborating human right. These include
conventions to prevent and prohibit specific abuses like torture and genocide and to
protect especially the vulnerable populations such as refugees (convention relating to the
status of refugees 1951), women CEDAW 1979 and children (convention on the rights of
the child 1989. As of 1997 the UN has ratified only:
The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women
The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
The Convention on the Political Rights of Women
39
The Slavery Convention of 1926
The convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment. In Europe, the Americas and Africa, regional documents for the protection
and promotion of human rights. For example African states have created their own
charter of human and peoples rights (1981) and Muslim state have created the Cairo
Declaration on human rights in Islam.
2.8 Role of NGOs
The champions of human rights have most often been citizens not government officials.
They have played a cardinal role in focusing the international community on human
rights issues. For example NGOs activities surrounding the 1995 united nations fourth
world conference on women in Beijing China draw unprecedented attention to serious
violations of human rights of women. NGOs such as Amnesty international, the anti
slavery society, the international commission of jurists, the international working Group
of Indigenous Affairs, Human Rights Watch, Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights
and survivors international monitor the action of governments and pressure them to act
according to hum an rights principles.
Government officials who understand the human rights frame work can also effect far
reaching change for freedom. Like drops of water falling on a rock, they wear down the
forces of oppression and move the world closer to achieving the principles expressed in
the UDHR.
40
Women’s Rights
Women’s rights are entitlements and freedoms such as freedom of assembly, association,
religion, speech, thought, scientific freedom, academic freedom, economic freedom etc
claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies. In some places these rights are
institutionalized or supported by local custom, behavior and law where as in other places
they may be ignored or suppressed Hosken (1981). They differ from broader notions of
human rights through claims of an inherent historical and traditional bias against the
exercise of rights by women and girls in favour of men and boys. from the Wikipedia, the
free encyclopedia, the issues commonly associated with notions of women’s rights
included though are not limited to the rights to bodily integrity and autonomy: to vote
(suffrage): to hold public office: to work, to fair wages or equal pay, to own property, to
education, to serve in the military or to be conscripted, to enter into legal contracts and to
have marital, parental and religious rights.
The status of which women have reached presently was not achieved due to the kindness
of men or due to natural progress. It was rather achieved through a long struggle and
sacrifice on women’s part and only when society needed the contribution and work, more
especially during the Second World War and due to the escalation of technological
change. Adawi (1971).
2.9 Women suffrage; why it took so long for women to achieve their goal
Traditional view of women in society was to stay at home, clean, raise children and help
with the family farm. This view started to change around the late 19th century and during
41
the industrial revolution. Male domination kept women at home but in the early 19th
century legislatures
and educators began expanding the opportunities of women in
education, Lisa Z. et al (1992)though there were exceptions and problems with women
and education, was women’s first step considering they could now get jobs in medicine
and law. During the civil war, women took over their husbands jobs and temporarily
stopped fighting for suffrage. They started helping the black slaves achieve freedom. The
antislavery movement, the 15th amendments, pushed women further down the trial
leading to suffrage. They finally achieved their goals.
In the 1820s men were in power and their philosophies included the idea that it was
accepted that women are possessions of their husbands and therefore they must agree
with everything they say. Again it was believed that most women were uneducated or
stupid so women were automatically assumed to be incapable of voting for presidents.
Also finally that they were superior and that they should stay that way.
This was a difficult philosophy for women to overturn. This is one reason why women’s
suffrage took so long to obtain Dickey (1995). In addition to male domination, women
hurt their own cause. The public believed that suffragist were connected with scandal
mongers such as the Claflin sisters. Consequently, most suffragists limited their work to
conventional topics and scorned radical view points. Examples when Anthony Constock
of Boston and Josiah W. of Philadelphia undertook crusades against obscenity, feminists
applauded and approved the formation in 1995 of the American Puritan Alliance which
was why women hurt their own cause Pitt 1987. However women helped their cause
gathering the Seneca Falls Convention. The Seneca Falls convention in 1848 stated the
42
injustices suffered by women. These injustices included the denial of the rights to vote,
the fact that a married women gave control of her property to her husband, the exclusion
of women from the professions, and the nearly absolute legal control of women by men
Conlin. In addition to their conservative views, most suffragists were elites that are, they
were not common people. For example Pitt writes….. the leaders were white college
educated and middle class. They were an elite and a minority within the elite. As a result,
suffragists were taken less seriously by the common people, Pitt (1987). It took
international crises, World War 2 for the claims of the suffragists to be taken seriously.
Only when the labour of women was needed in war time did the federal government act
on considering rational suffrage for women. Even though the suffragist movement
progressed slowly, their efforts did have an effect on the government. The movement
brought the inequality of voting restrictions to public attention. This public attention
combined with the heroic service of women in industry during World War 1 resulted in
the passage of the 19th amendment provides men and women with equal voting rights.
After 90 years, the goal of suffragists was achieved, Grolier encyclopedia (1995)
It may have taken women a long time to achieve the right of suffrage in spite of their
conservative views. Men were threatened by women who want to move forward. Since
male dominated the United States, they knew they had the power to keep women from
getting vote. Certain states, such as Klyoming, gave women the right to vote in state
elections as early as 1869. Male domination played a big part in the whole concept for
women getting the right to vote. Now women are considered to be equal with men. Even
though women were considered to be lesser than men, they never really were Encarta
encyclopedia (1993).
43
2.10 Women in the Economy
The debate on the role of women in societies and their participation in economic activity
has sparked a lot of controversy for a considerable time. To these effect different groups
of people – women’s groups, government development partners and civil society group
have forwarded many arguments to support their stand. Those who are against the
increase participation of women in all sphere of economic and political activities have
argued that the biology sex determines that women are limited to the home and children
and must play a subordinate role in the economy, public affairs and even in the in the
home. On the other side of the divide is the argument that since the biology of sex has
been constant throughout it cannot be used to explain changes in societies and therefore
cannot be used to explain changes in societies of women in societies, Dackard (1983).
According to Leavitt (1971) the most important clue to women’s statutes any where in
the world is her degree of participation in economic life and her control over property and
the product she produces. To enhance efficiency and survival, every known society
divides and specializes labour tasks to some extent and these divisions of labour has
knowingly or unknowingly been done along sex lines where men carry out tasks that take
them outside the home and women are largely restricted to homecare, childbearing and
child rearing. According to Amu, (2003) women are generally perceived to be patient,
dependent and passive and their work considered to be unexciting and repetitive. In fact
women are naturally mothers and their greatest pleasure and true fulfillment lies in
maternity, the one of a few things that women are good at, Deckard (1983).
44
These perceptions about women have turned to marginalized women and have belittled
women’s work in the home and outside the home and therefore women’s contribution to
economic well being of the home and society. To correct these imbalances and to reverse
the marginalization of women, it was necessary for both men and women to realize that
women are not treated as equals to men. Further more women voices needed to be heard
and included. Unfortunately not all women had equal access to avenues that made his
possible. According to Amu (2003) voices heard were generally from the one part of the
world, the west and these voices purported to speak for all women irrespective of
location. Even though they did well a lot of misrepresentation arose due to their lack of
knowledge of those they purported to represent. As was to be expected Africa and other
location outside their immediate environment became esoteric laboratories for the study
of quaint, barbaric and repressive traditional practices. Not much was made of the unique
strengths and institutionalized powers of women in other places, particularly in many
parts of Africa, especially prior to colonialism Ufomata, (2000).
2.11 Women and Politics
Women made a significant contribution to politics in the pre and post independence era.
The role of women was evident in their support o the Convention People’s Party (CPP), it
is on record that women traders were keen supporters of the supportive of the CPP
government, which in turn offered financial assistance and supportive service. The
women section of the party, according to Tsikata (1989) was largely responsible for the
development of the women’s wing of the party and also for the youth organization. The
45
party leadership therefore institutionalized this initiative by making constitutional
provisions for a women’s league at branch and ward levels as the main organizing
framework for women in the party. It was therefore not surprising that the party gave
credit to women for the internal solidarity, cohesion and success of the CPP. Manu
(1991) records tat women were efficient organizers who could bring thousands of people
together for a rally at very short notice.
According to Allah – Mensah (2001) the skills went beyond the confines of the party and
spread to the other political organizations involving women, viz the formation of
women’s groups , inter alia , the Ghana Women’s League (GWL), the Ghana Federation
of Women (GFW) and later the National Council of Ghana women (NCGW) in 1960,
Tsikata (1989). The prelude to independence, however now some slight but significant
changes. Traditionally women have a long history of organization and Tsikata traces the
involvement of women in economic activities and their fight to equality on the economic
front as well as their involvement in the political affairs of the nation particularly between
1951 and 1966 (ibid 79). The consultative assembly (CA) which was under the PNDC
Law 253, in 1991 had 121 members drawn from sixty two identifiable groups only ten
represents from the national council on women and Development (NCWD) Bluwey 1998
even though women from other groups also were given seats.
If numbers are anything to go by, then women were better represented in comparison
with the other groups mentioned above. Nevertheless, the participation of women in the
consultative assembly deliberations was not commensurate with their numerical strength.
Although there were some women who were very vocal a few made very important
46
contributions to discussions, the majority did not perform to expectation. Since 1988, the
performance of women in politics at the local level has recorded some steady but slow
progress in the number of women contestants and the number of those who actually win.
Although these numbers are not significant, they do offer some modicum of hope for
women’s political participation at the local feel and a foretaste of what will happen at the
national level as more women are elected and gain the necessary experience.
Brown et al (1990) place the position of women in the local government system in the
public domain through their examination of the subject. Their study also sought to
analyse the factors affecting the extent of women’s participation and to design
appropriate strategies for the enhancement of women’s political rights. Brown et al
reiterated that women’s political participation has a link with the effectiveness of their
political activities and their ability to make an impact on local political establishments
and communities and to give direction through their involvement in policy- and decision
making (Ibid:21)
The study reported opinions about women’s participation in politics. Some of the
respondents behaved that women were ineffective in politics that they should not rub
shoulders with men politically and should remain homemakers. They supported this by
arguing that women were not firm in making decisions and implementing policies. On the
other hand, another set of respondents opined that women could function as a unifying
force in local politics and a third group confirmed the need for the empowerment of
women in spite of the traditional setting and cultural demands.
47
Promoting women in political life requires attention to facilitate links and dialogue
between women inside and outside political structures in order to build accountability,
especially during periods of legislative change (Baiden, 1999). It has been observed that
the presence of significant numbers of women in parliament can help improve the quality
of debate and policy making. This is supposed by Galoy (1998) and Nelson and
Chowdhury (1994) that women’s participation in politics creates the congenial
atmosphere needed to humanize gender relations in politics and that democracy without a
reasonable number of women is not democracy.
2.12 Abantu for Development
Twenty – two years ago, in faraway Britain, a group of dedicated feminist African
women from Western, Eastern and Southern Africa pioneered the birth of an organisation
devoted to gender issues. ABANTU for Development set up an office in London. The
early 1990s were a time when economic and political crises in Africa, aggravated by
armed conflicts, had severely restricted national capacities to sustain the march towards
social and economic change. Women were having to bear the greater share of social and
economic burdens while remaining largely excluded from politics and policymaking. At
the same time, the state was increasingly unable to fulfill its social responsibilities, and
non-state organisations were slowly gaining ground as alternative vehicles for the
implementation of development programmes and projects in the new democratic
dispensations that were emerging in Africa.
48
The founding mothers of ABANTU for Development came from diverse backgrounds:
those with roots in Britain and Europe, those whose pursuit of further knowledge had
taken them there, and those who had escaped from political persecution and oppression
within their own countries. What they shared was a determination to seize the opportunity
to use their expertise, experiences, knowledge and skills to the benefit of the African
women at home and abroad.
Since 1991, ABANTU has inspired many African women and men, and given rise to at
least one other dynamic African women's organisation – Akina Mama wa Afrika, which
was also founded in London. While ABANTU's founders had a shared vision and a
common understanding of the economic realities of the continent and the general
conditions in which women were situated, there emerged two schools of thought within
the organisation. There were those who wanted to move back to Africa and focus solely
on the continent, and those who believed that Europe should still hold the centre stage. In
the end, ABANTU did both. Some of the founders stayed on and maintained an office in
London, while others relocated to establish ABANTU regional offices in East and West
Africa. Wanjiru Kiharo, the Director, remained in London, but visited the African offices
regularly.
In the 1980s and 1990s, African people experienced the diminishing role of the state in
the provision of social and public services, following externally engineered economic
reforms intended to divorce the state from the social sector. Under the broad umbrella of
globalisation, a number of international institutions, structures and arrangements,
including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Trade
49
Organisation (WTO) and Structural Adjustment Programmes (SAPS), were rendering
African economies weak and stagnant. This had serious implications for the reduction of
poverty. The economic, social and political crises of these disaster years
disproportionately burdened women, who were largely sited within patriarchal social
arrangements and reproductive roles. Due to inadequate representation and participation
of African women in decision-making at local, national, regional and international levels,
few women have been able to contribute to redefining policies, infusing them with
women's interests, or to offer new perspectives on such issues as poverty reduction,
conflict resolution and reconstruction. Nor have women been wholly successful at
placing new items on the agenda that could address women's gender-specific concerns.
African women have been absent as decision-makers in very important forums where
critical decisions that impact on their lives have been taken.
ABANTU for Development was established in recognition of the urgent need to build the
capacity of African women to participate in transforming their societies and achieving
gender equality. With this came a commitment to strengthening civil society and
enhancing women's participation in all levels of decision- and policy-influencing.
ABANTU seeks to strengthen NGOs that work for and with women, enabling them to be
more effective actors in the policy-making processes in their various countries.
The organisation that began as a small office in central London grew to include a
Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa (ROESA) in Nairobi, Kenya, and a
nucleus Country Office for West Africa, established in 1994 and based in Kaduna,
Nigeria. ABANTU's journey in Africa has sometimes been traumatic; the Kaduna offices
50
were razed to the ground during religious rioting, with some staff narrowly escaping with
their lives. In 2003, in a tragic accident, ABANTU's Executive Director was left in a
coma after a light aeroplane in which she was travelling crashed in Kenya. The Regional
Office for Western Africa (ROWA) was re-established in Accra, Ghana, where a small
unit had been initiated in 1999. ABANTU-ROWA co-ordinates all ABANTU
programmes in the West African region, including the country programme activities of
the Nigeria Country Office, which has been set up in a different location.
2.13 Abantu's vision and mission
ABANTU has a vision of a world in which empowered women and men, utilising their
own resources,
work
together to
address
gender inequalities
and promote
transformational leadership and development for a just society.
It exists to build the capacity of women to participate in decision-making at all levels, to
influence policies from a gender perspective, and to address inequalities and injustices in
social relations. It seeks to strengthen NGOs to be effective actors with a strong voice in
the policy-making processes in their countries.
The organisation works through advocacy, training, research, institutional development
and networking. Through these activities, ABANTU seeks to:
•
enhance the capacity of African people, in particular women, to participate in
development;
51
•
increase the participation of African women in the political and economic
structures of their countries.
The organisation focuses on gender training and capacity-building, extending public
awareness of gender issues, and the provision of information and advice on the
mobilisation of resources towards sustainable development in Africa.
The rationale behind Abantu's work is that whereas both women and men face constraints
in their participation in policy-making, the specific ways in which women are restricted,
and the structural inequalities they face, need to be given sufficient attention and
addressed. At the same time, lack of adequate access to necessary knowledge and skills
also affects the ability of many NGOs working with women to provide an environment
that would empower women to articulate their concerns about policies and their
implications for their lives.
2.14 Core objectives
ABANTU's continental programmes are directed by these objectives:

to promote alternative gender-sensitive measures that contribute to the economic
empowerment of women;

to highlight the gender implications of governance and increase the effective and
gender-sensitive participation of poor people, especially women, in the political
process;
52

to enhance and sustain the leadership roles of women in peace-building,
preventative action on conflict, post-conflict transformation, and to strengthen the
capacities of women's organisations to participate effectively in peace-building
and reconstruction;

to ensure a gender-perspective in all aspects of conflict, peace-building and postconflict reconstruction;

to improve African women's access to and use of information and
communications technology, and to work for the development of gender-sensitive
ICT policies;

to highlight and influence, using a gender-analytical approach, the policies that
perpetuate poverty;

to enable women's organisations to engage in dialogue and negotiations on
economic policies at all levels;

to ensure the institutional and organisational development of ABANTU so that it
can be effective in influencing policies and development for the benefit of African
women and men.
2.15 Programme implementation
Abantu implements its programmes through the following activities:
Advocacy, public awareness and networking (APAN)
53
Within this area, ABANTU supports advocacy actions for the implementation of Article
7 of the CEDAW and the critical areas of the Dakar and Beijing Platforms for Action
dealing with women's political empowerment, economic empowerment, conflict and
peace-building, and access to education, science and technology. Through media
sensitisation programmes, Abantu hosts discussion programmes around the four thematic
areas of governance, poverty, conflict and ICTs.
2.16 Training and capacity-building
Since 1996, ABANTU's training and capacity-building programme – “Enhancing
Capacities for Engaging with National Policies from a Gender Perspective” – has worked
across the sub-regions to sensitise policymakers to the gender implications of their
policies, and to raise awareness in NGOs and CBOs of gender stereotypes and the
potential of women as leaders. The organisation also sets up training programmes for
women so that their skills can match the prerequisites for effective engagement with
governance institutions.
2.17 Research, publication and information
Research is conducted on each of the thematic areas to serve as a basis for our policy
advocacy work. Through debates, information-sharing workshops, public policy forums,
54
popular education, radio, and other media on gender equality issues, additional
information is generated, and this serves as a basis for developing publications.
2.18 Institutional development of ABANTU
Institutional development is another functional area of ABANTU. Here the organisation
implements staff development initiatives around the thematic areas in order to strengthen
staff capacity for leading the change process in both the organisation itself and the wider
public.
2.19 Training and Capacity Building
Aim
The aim of ABANTU’s training and capacity building programme is to strengthen
women’s ability to demand their rights as equal citizens of their communities through
deepening their understanding, knowledge and skills of development issues from a
gender perspective..
Target Groups
ABANTU’s training programmes are targeted at the following:

Individual women at the local level
55

Representatives of local groups and organizations

Advocacy groups, NGO’s, Networks, Political parties

Media

District Assembly women

Students (Tertiary and Senior High Schools)
Types of Training
ABANTU delivers the following training programmes:

Strengthening the organizational capacities on Gender and Policy Analysis.

Promoting knowledge and skills for Resource Mobilisation and Funding.

Strengthening capacities on Gender and Gender Analysis.

Strengthening capacities on Gender and Climate Change.

Strengthening capacities on Gender, Conflict and Peace.

Enhancing capacities on Gender, Politics and Decision-making

Campaign strategies and leadership skills for women.
Abantu for Development has the following as the staff
Director of Abantu
Programme manager
Finance and Administrative officer
Research and policy Analyst
Senior programme officer
Assistant Administrative officer
56
Coalition and Partnership officer
Support service officer
Security officer
Transport officer
2.20 Some violence against women.
All over the world women are abused and marginalized because
of their vulnerability. Violence against women can be a human right issue as well as
developmental issues because of it link between poverty and human insecurity and
violence. The Beijing plate form for action identifies gender violence as a critical against
women 50th violence and impairs or mortifies the enjoyment by women of their human
right and fundamental freedom (United Nation 1996:73) violence against women and
girls in Ghana can be grouped into, domestic, religion, education, social political among
others.
2.21 Domestic Violence
Domestic violence takes rumour forms and despite its prevalence, abuse against women
has remained invisible for a long time and the reason being that since such act are done in
the privacy and sanctity of the home, they are treated as private, natural and does not
deserve the attention of the public and therefore they are not even reported for action to
be taken against the perpetrators. According to the United Nations Declaration, violence
against women is any act of gender based violence that result in or likely to result in
physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including treaties of such
57
acts, coercion, arbitration deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in the public or
private live.
Theoretically, crime is violence against not only an individual but society as a whole.
However some individuals are either minimized or ignored entirely by the legal system,
this is after the case with wife battery as this violence is defined as something other than
loyalty threatening (Rafter and Stanko 1984, Adler 1987). The law sets and resets the
parameters within which the society as a whole is dealing with although the law reflects
cultural values about female sexuality; it goes far beyond merely reproducing those forms
(Smart 1989). A study on abuse of wives suggests that it is the most common form of
gender violence committed not only in Africa but worldwide (Muchena 1996, UN1995).
The lack of data is partly due to the fact that in many societies there is a widespread
acceptance of such abuse as natural, normal and inevitable.
Under customary law a wife is recognized as an inferior and powerless partner in the
marriage. In Guinea and in Sharia Court in Nigeria, legal evidence by woman caries less
weight than that of a man (Mamashela 1986, U.S State Dept.1997) society and the law
exalt women to obey their husbands to conform to gender-specific expectations. When
they do not know it is incumbent upon husbands to correct their behavior (Romany
1994). The coming together of a variety of traditions both African and European,
contributes to the fact that violence within the home is recognized as a family matter in
countries as diverse as Benin, Botswana, Mauritania, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Senegal and
Cape Verde (U.S State Dept 189-1997). Wife battery is commonly described as the
violence victimization of women by the men to whom they are married or with whom
they share a marriage like relationship. This abuse usually moves a variable combination
58
of the threat of violence, emotional violence, forced sex and physical assault (Kelly
1988). Wife battery involves some forms of usually escalating physical brutality methods
of the intimate violence resemble the common methods of torture, beating, biting,
spitting, kicking, slashing, strangling, scolding, burning and attempted drowning. The
consequence includes physical and mental pain and suffering, disfigurement temporary
and permanent disabilities, in carriage, maiming, and death (Copelon 1994). One South
African woman described the particular kind of torture she endured. My husband has
always abused me. He has a drug and alcohol problem stayed because I am a catholic and
because we have six children, until he kicked me out. He used to tie me to the bed so I
couldn’t go out; he cracked my head and broke one of my fingers. Another time he
burned me with boiling water. Once he put an electric shock through my fingers. (Human
Rights Watch 1995a:60). (Adepoju 1994) whether they become refugees because of
natural disaster, ecological problems, or internal conflicts female refugees are generally
poor, separated from male kin and forced to take on responsibilities as heads of
household and for income earners they are a group faced with multiple problems
example, refugees from Liberia and Sierra Leone report that some Guinea soldiers
demand sex in exchange for entry to Guinea (U.S State Dept. 1997)
2.22 F.G.M
Although genital cutting is not traditional to all Africa, it does affect large numbers of
women and with their – not only in Africa, but worldwide. Estimates of the total number
of women circumcised in Africa alone range between 30 to 100 million. Currently it is
estimated that 2 million girls a year – six thousand per day- are circumcised Dorkonoo
59
(1994): Toubia (1993). According to Green (1999), it is estimated that virtually female
living in Somalia and Djibouti, 98% of the female population has been circumcised,
infibulations is primarily practiced by pastoral and agro- pastoral people but has diffused
to agriculturalists and urban areas which may be recalled to the interdependence of
pastoral rural urban populations in western Sudan and the Horn of Africa, infibulations is
also widespread in Chad, northern Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Cote d Ivoire and Mali, Hicks
(1993). Six adult women were forcibly excised during periods of political unrest
associated with the 1993 elections in Kenya in order to scare non Kalenjins, Kalenjin the
president of ethnic group from voting, Dorkenoo (1994). All these hurt the women and
scare them.
A Somali woman described her ordeal:
I suffered a lot during my wedding time. The custom in my region was
and still is, that the man infibulates his bride. My husband used a knife
to cut the infibulations and when I tried to run away and struggle, he
accidentally cut the sides of my legs and the whole area was messed up
with blood. I lost a lot of blood and then developed a constant fever and
my vagina became swollen. I was terribly sick when my mother came
and took me home after that I was taken to Galkaayo hospital where I
stayed for a week,(Abdulla, 1982).
These women are likely to experience dyspareunia or pain and anxiety, during
intercourse for the rest of their lives El Saadawi (1981, Dorkenoo 1994)
2.23 Confinement of Witches
Since women are not regarded in most societies any woman seen to be hard working is
branded a witch. Obbo (1980) maintains that women who continue to challenge what
were accepted as traditional roles by earning and controlling their own income are
perceived as being traitors and bad for the society. Although witch craft accusation has
long been employed as a means of control, the rise in the number of accusations may be a
60
response to the shift in gender relations caused by intensifying processes of conflict and
changes. Green posits that women in a variety of circumstances are often labeled as
prostitutes or witches. Witch craft accusations has the direct disciplinary effects of
controlling women’s sexual and reproductive behaviour Mies (1986). The mid 1990s
marks something of resurgence of witch killing and the exile of accused witches in
several parts of Africa. For example hundreds of women accused of witchcraft have
been sent to penal villages in the northern region where two villages house four hundred
elderly women who face no formal sanctions if they leave, but fear being beaten to death
if they are caught (US, States Department (1997). In January 1996, 37 people were killed
as witches in Uganda. In South Africa the number of reported witch killings doubled
between 1994 and 1995 from 70- 146. While not all were female, most of the people
recently killed as witches in South Africa were unattached, relatively successful women
(National Public Radio 1994, The Economist 1995)
Analysts contend that is probably the most common motivation for the witchcraft
accusation, regardless of gender. According to Hoch- Smith, when women gain authority
in male dominated societies, male suspicion and resentment is often focused on the
concepts of witchcraft Hoch- Smith (1978); Minnear, Payze and Ofringa (1992).
According to Hoch- Smith (1978), witchcraft is closely associated with common fears
about women and their uncontrolled sexuality. In one area 32 people accused of
witchcraft were killed over a two months period as one youthful participant described it,
We locked them in, tied the door with wires so that they could not escape… we Set it
alight and that was the end of them Delius (1997). This really testifies to the fact that
women’s rights are really relegated to the background.
61
2.24 Inheritance Rights
Before 1985, inheritance of property, for the majority of Ghanaians was regulated by the
customary law of the person who has died or by the type of marriage the deceased
contracted during his lifetime, Corka (2002) If an Akan man died, his property was
inherited by his sister’s children (usually the boys) or his own brothers by his mother, that
is members of his maternal family. The wife and children of the deceased were not
considered part of his maternal family and therefore were not entitled to any of his
property.
This customary law did not take into account the role and or the contribution of the wife
and or children in the acquisition of the deceased’s property. What happened in such
situations was that the wife and children were deprived of any share in the deceased’s
property and were in some cases thrown out of the family home, thus becoming destitute
in the process. Very often the nephew or family member who inherited the deceased’s
property may not have contributed in any way to the acquisition of the property.
In patrilineal communities, that is, those communities who inherit through the male line,
even though the children of the deceased are the ones to inherit, the real situation on the
ground is that it is only the sons who inherited. The daughters were denied their share of
such property because they were either married or would marry and therefore if allowed
to inherit, the property would go to some other family. In situations where the children
were very young when the father died, the property is given to a brother or other male
relative of the deceased to manage until the children come of age. During this period, the
successor is expected to look after the surviving children and their mother but there have
62
been several instances where these successors have failed to carry out their obligations
and by the time the children grow up, the property would have been mismanaged or
totally dissipated.
Wives, under patrilineal law, were also not considered part of the husbands’ families and
here again were denied a share of the deceased’s property as happened to wives under
matrilineal law. In the case of wives under patrilineal system, it was thought that if her
children, that is, sons, inherited the property, then she could have access to the property.
Again, the wife’s contribution was not recognized nor taken into account.
Customary law did not take into account the situation where the sons who inherited may
not be the natural children of the surviving wife. In such a case, there is no guarantee that
the wife would enjoy any of the property if there is no legal guarantee of the wife’s right
to the deceased husband’s property.
Husbands, under either matrilineal or patrilineal systems of inheritance could not inherit
their deceased wives’ property as they were not considered part of their wives’ families.
These inequities in inheritance under customary law, informed the Government’s
decision to pass a uniform system of inheritance law to apply to all Ghanaians,
irrespective of whether one belonged to a patrilineal or matrilineal family, the type of
marriage contracted or one’s religion. The Intestate Succession Law, PNDC Law111,
which came into effect in 1985, make it possible for children, sons and daughters, as well
as wives to inherit property of the deceased husband. In the same way, a husband,
together with the children can inherit the property of a deceased wife.
63
In recognition of the changes in the family structure from extended family to a nuclear
one of husband, wife and children, the provisions of the Intestate Succession Law gives a
greater portion of the deceased’s property to the surviving spouse and children. The law
makes provision for one house, personal effects, household chattels, such as furniture,
fridge, cooker, television, radio, etc. as well as any private cars to go exclusively to the
surviving spouse and children. The distribution of any remaining property, for example,
if there is more than one house, businesses, commercial vehicles, is done in a way that
gives a portion to the surviving parents of the deceased as well his customary family.
The law also makes it an offence for any person to deprive a beneficiary, in this case the
surviving spouse and children of the property of the deceased. A person found guilty of
such an offence may be imprisoned for a maximum period of six months, or fined
¢500,000 or imprisoned and fined at the same time.
2.25 Strategies put in place by abantu for development in protecting women’s rights
In 1997, in collaboration with the African Centre for Women at the UN Economic
Commission for Africa, ABANTU produced tools and guidelines for developing National
Action Plans for the implementation of the Platforms for Action, and for monitoring and
evaluating government implementation in 1997.
Laws are made in various societies to protect its people and to maintain law and order.
The1992 constitution has clear provision guaranteeing the fundamental human rights of
all citizens. Article 17 provides protection against discrimination and enjoins the state to
64
take steps to end all forms of discrimination. Again Article 35 (5 and 6) enjoins the state
to end all forms of discriminations through laws , reforms and affirmative action. In
relation to women laws have been passed over the years to improve their situations.these
include marriage laws, intestate succession law,PNDC law 111 (1985), the Domestic
Violence Act, Act 273 (2007), and the Human Trafficking Act, Act 694 (2005).
Inspite of these laws, instruments, women continue to suffer bias and discrimination.
Abantu as a non governmental organization with the aim of empowering women in
Ghana has put in place certain strategies that would help to promote the rights of people.
The following are some of the strategies.
According to Abantu News Letter, (No 3, July 2012), Abantu and other women’s rights
groups have continue to make strategic efforts at community and national levels to
influence policies and legal reforms to ensure that the Beijing Platform for Action
(BFPA) informs the political, social and economic development processes in Ghana. The
source further reiterate that there has been appreciable improvement in the enrollment of
women in the tertiary institutions and this has been due to the application of the
affirmative action in recruitment by some institutions
Abantu for Development is an African sub regional wwomen’s rights NGO dedicated to
advancing gender equality in Ghana. The organization focuses much on its efforts on
policy influencing and building the capacity of women to become leaders decision
makersat all levels of public life.
According to Harrison, cited in Abantu news letter, 2010,Abantu has formed a group
called the Young Women’s Mentorship Programme that aims at addressing the apathetic,
65
political attitude in young Ghanaians today. Many of the members of the group entered as
timid young women with little confidence and political knowledge. These same young
people have grown to females holding leadership positions in ghana’s National Students
Union and other governing bodies.
Again Abantu is emphasizing on the usage of the quota system and other temporary
special measures such as reserved seats have played a significant role in increasing the
number of women in public life. In addition to awareness raising campaigns , leadership
training and capacity building initiatives backed by political support help to promothe
rights of people.
Again a nation wide campaign strategy to strengthen the advocacy initiative of increasing
and enhancing the participation of women in politics and decision making at all levels.
Abantu has strengthen ed the capacities of women, their organisations and movement ,
building efforts to proactively demand state accountability for active participation and
increased representation in policies and politics.
Consolidate the gains of democratic governance by ensuring that women areenabled to
concretely engage with electioneering policies, institutions and processes to promote
gender equality, transparency and accountability towards the maintenance of peace and
fairness
Research and document the knowledge and experiences of women in their efforts to
promote their rights. Abantu specially target women and their political parties to enhance
their participation and representation in internal party structure and in politics generally.
66
They have also helped to sensitise the media on the rights of women for them to
propagate the message to the public.
The different forms of violence have different consequences or impacts on the victim.
Below is a table of the consequences. Whilst it is easy to identify the consequences of
physical, sexual or economic abuse, it is very difficult to identify those of psychological
abuse. Indeed, oftentimes, the impact of physical or sexual abuse has psychological
manifestations. Psychological abuse often has long lasting impact, which may need
professional care.
2.26 Some Achievements of Abantu for Development
Abantu for development has four thematic areas where they help to address; climatic
change; Abantu engages with government in implementing policies on climate change
from a gender perspective. The impact of climate change is going to be
disproportionately severe on the poor. Women make up a large number of the poor
especially in communities that are highly dependent on local natural resources for their
livelihood and therefore are more vulnerable
ABANTU
to and affected by climate change,
for development (2010).in addition inequalities in relation to education
women’s limited access to resources, access to financial credit , information and
technology , limited mobility and low participation in decision making, increase the level
of vulnerability for women to the effect of climate change Abantu news (2010) . Abantu
posits that the gendered nature of the division of labour in the developing world where
women have the major responsibility for household water supply, energy for cooking and
food security means that women are more likely to be affected negatively by drought,
irregular patterns o rainfall and capacities in natural resource management that can
67
contribute to discussions on climate change mitigation, disaster reduction and adaptation
strategies. Women are not only victims of climate change, but also effective agents of
change in relation to both mitigation and adaptation, yet they are absent in spaces where
decisions on climate change initiatives are arrived at. In recognition to this reality and as
a result of Abantus participation in retreats , meetings and international conferences the
organization has been well positioned to implement a gender and climate change
programme that will effectively address gender specific impacts and identify gender
sensitive strategies for responding to the environmental and humanitarian challenges of
climate change. The following are some of the achievements of Abantu as far as women
empowerment is concerned.
2.27 Major Achievements:

Abantu is the first women’s rights organization in West African sub region to
initiate a programme on gender and climate change as a thematic area in order to
integrate gender perspectives and strengthen the involvement of women in
addressing climate change.

Abantu has participated in international conferences on climate change including
the global meeting held in December 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Abantu
joined other order international women’s groups to demand the inclusion of
specific gender language into climate change agreements as well as increased
women’s participation.

Contributing to gender sensitive inputs to inter- governmental bodies as they
further develop policies and programmes in the areas of climate change.
68

Abantu has played a lead role in the formation of a coalition in Ghana named;
coalition on Gender Action on Climate Change for Equality and Sustainability
(GACCES). The coalition aims to enhance public awareness on the gendered
dimension of climate change through research, and engagement with government
and community leaders. In addition Abantu monitors government compliance
with the implementation of agreements for the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to ensure that strategies meet the
specific needs and concerns of women.

The formation of Female Photojournalists (FFP) has worked with GACCES to
produce a documentary titled; whispers of climate change. This documentary is
being used for sensitization, education and advocacy on climate change, its effects
and implications foe gender relations.
2.28 Governance
ABANTU has helped to strengthen the capacity of women to participate in decision
making to influence policies from a gender perspective, and to address inequalities and
injustices in social relations. The Women’s Manifesto Coalition hosted by ABANTU has
been effectively used to advance ABANTU’s goal in this thematic area. Several activities
have been undertaken to this end, with satisfactory outcomes. Although the ultimate goal
for getting more women in parliament and other decision-making positions has been an
uphill task, there has been enhanced gender awareness with more women getting actively
involved in political processes. With regards to national general elections, there has been
69
a study increase in women’s involvement in various capacities; as election observers,
polling agents electoral officers and reporters’ other outcomes include;

The institutionalization of a biennial conference of District Assemblywomen from
all the districts in Ghana since 2003, where assembly women continue to meet ,
learn, share , reflect
and chart new directions towards women’s increased
participation and effectiveness in the governance process.

An inter- party caucus has been formed to advocate for women’s political
participation, following
a yearly modular training programme organized by
Abantu, in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FEF) and women in
broadcasting(WIB).

Recommendations for effective strategies to enhance women participation in
politics came out of a number of workshops on the theme preparations on
enhancing participation in politics election 2008. For example in 2008, Abantu’s
advocacy and capacity building activities targeted women aspirants, the electorate
and the media.

As a result of regulari sensitization workshops held for media personnel to
promote women’s leadership, media practitioners from both private and public
media houses have given publicity to women in governance using the print and
electronic media. There is therefore enhanced media coverage of gender and
governance issues.

An increase in the number of women aspirants in district elections in 2004 and
2006. In addition there has been enhanced capacity for women political
candidates and women in governance. Assemblywomen have increased their
70
understanding of democratic governance as well as played active roles in drawing
attention to gender issues in sectoral and district development issues.

Abantu has trained individuals and members of institutions, who have been
elected into District Assemblies and in Parliament rendering valuable service to
their communities.

A data base of women in leadership and in politics for easy reference is in place.
2.29 Peace Building

Abantu’s work in this thematic area is informed by or belief that processes that
take place to build peace following conflicts are largely gendered processes and
that post- conflict peace building mechanisms are impacted by gender relations
that reinforce inequalities.
Abantu developed a framework on how to promote gender responsiveness in
peacekeeping initiatives. This was adopted by the then Organisation of African Unity
(OAU). Subsequently gender responsiveness has formed a critical feature of the African
Unions (AU) deliberations on peacemaking.

Helped to increase awareness among governments about the need to include
gender into peace and security processes, and to bring issues that are of concerns
to women to be discussed and addressed. The voices of refugees and resettled
women in Liberia have been heard as a result of these initiatives of Abantu.

Organized capacity building workshops and public for a for Liberian refugee at
the Buduburam Settlement camp in Ghana with follow-ups in Liberia on gender
and peace- building as well as on UNR 1325 and UNR 1820.
71

Established a peace Network (Abantu- Peacenet) involving Liberia, The Gambia,
Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Ghana to develop as well as influence regional peace
and security frameworks. This is aimed at ensuring that gender is integrated and
impacts positively on processes of post conflict reconstruction, not only in Liberia
Sierra Leone, Nigeria and the Gambia,, but the sub region as a whole.

Currently Abantu is working with renowned African and international feminists to
implement a three year research initiative on peace building Abantu hopes that the
research will help to enhance women’s ability to actively participate and
contribute and contribute to conflict resolution and peace building processes as
well as challenge the pervasive negative effects of militarism on gender relations,
democratization and development in adversely affected west African countries.
2.30 Women’s Manifesto
This is a clear illustration of how Abantu has worked with partners to influence policies
from women’s rights and gender justice perspective. In mobilizing the various groups,
actors and interested parties around the idea of developing and producing the women’s
manifesto for Ghana document, there was he acceptance that women are not
homogenous. Women differ in various aspects. How ever, in initiating the idea to
develop the women’s manifesto for Ghana, Abantu recognised that women can draw
similarities from their experiences as a marginalized people and work together and build
a common platform that would enable them demand redress of their concerns.
1. The formation of a board coalition of NGOs and other civil society
organization as the institutional framework to work collectively to
promote the wider dissemination, acceptance, use and implementation of
72
the women’s manifesto demands by government, political parties ,
constitutional bodies , legislature , the judiciary , law agencies as well as
by CSOs themselves.
2. Extensive dissemination of the document nationally and internationally.
The manifesto has become one of the recognized documents in the
country. it has been discussed, analysed and debated on radio, television
and in the print media and widely described as a land mark document.
Many countries in Africa including Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Liberia have
learnt from our experience.
3. The document has been translated into four local languages; Akan,
Dagbani, Ewe and Ga to promote wider dissemination among a wider
range of users who can read and write in the selected local languages. This
process
has
strengthened
women’s
indigenous
knowledge
and
participation in governance processes using local languages.
4. Regional and district manifesto sensitization programmes have been
organized in collaboration with National Commission for Civic Education
(NCCE) and the Institute for Local Government Studies (ILGS).
5. Outreach sensitization programmes have been organized for senior high
schools in the nine regions of Ghana by the women’s manifesto coalition
in collaboration with Abantu.
6. The manifesto is used as required course material in some tertiary
institutions in Ghana.
73
7. The manifesto has been adopted by the commonwealth foundation as a
document of best practice, while the African gender institute in South
Africa, civil society organizations in Uganda, Liberia, Sierra Leone and
Gambia have consulted with the coalitions secretariat to lean more from
the Ghanaian experience.
8. Some of the manifesto demands have been redressed and translated into
law and incorporated into the country’s statutory books. These include the
Human Trafficking law (Act 694), Domestic Violence law (Act 2007) and
the law on People with Disabilities (Act 715).
Abantu has participated in building and strengthening partnership and coalition with both
local and international allies with similar convictions. The move is also about mobilizing
in greater numbers, enhance voice and sustain the national will especially of the women’s
constituency to stand up and demand for non discriminatory and fair actions that will
recognize the rights of all.
2.31 The Use of the Quota System to Promote Women’s Rights in Ghana
In all societies, power and influence on how political and economic processes have to be
managed for development has continued to be exercised by and in favour of elite groups
majority of who are men. Many barriers and discriminatory practices against women
hinder their ability to actively participate in all processes of decision making that affect
their lives, Abantu news letter (2010). Thus there is acceptance that affirmative action
policies are required to promote women’s political participation rather than simply
leaving them to work on their own to compete to obtain entry into such structures. A
74
measure that can be used is the quota system. It has been revealed through studies that
most countries that have managed to achieve the 30-40 percent representation of women
in governance have done so through affirmative action using the quota system. According
to the news letter women’s political participation is central to democratic governance.
Half of the world’s population cannot be excluded from either representation or
participation. Thus equal participation of men and women in making decisions is the only
way through which women can enjoy their rights as citizens of a country.
2.32 Factors Accounting for Women’s Low Participation in Politics
Through out the world, women face a lot of challenges in their efforts to enhance their
political participation. Although women form more than 51% of the world’s
population,Allah- Mensah ( 2001) they face multifaceted challenges within prevailing
cultural, social and economic systems. As well, existing political and electoral structures,
discriminate against them a number of factors account for this:
2.33 Women’s double burden
The relationships and burdens of women in society, as full time wife , mother , trader,
lawyer, doctor or nurse put so much pressure on them that becoming a member of
parliament or taking up politics will be adding an extra duty to their already numerous
task. Traditionally, women are the ones who take care and run the affairs of the home
such as cooking , fetching water, fetching firewood, childcare and formal workforce
some women who work in the formal sector , performing such tasks puts extra pressure
on them leaving them with very little time to engage in active politics.
75
2.34 Lack of Support from Society
The patriarchal system in various countries makes it quite impossible for men to
encourage women to engage in politics. Women are taken out of their homes when they
take up politics and due to the fact that some women are not economically sound, when
husbands refuse to support them financially, they are unable to participate in politics.
Problems arise in marital homes when women insist to participate and many times this
ends in divorce. Because women are sensitive to family needs they are discouraged from
embarking on acts that might lead to disintegration of their families. Moreover the socio
cultural structure of the communities in Ghana creates situations where women are
always ridiculed and called names when they try to assert themselves politically it is
difficult to withstand derogatory comments made about them when they mount the
political stage. This is because such comments affect their families as well.
2.35 Lack of Political Will
Countries have signed documents that make it obligatory for them to introduce measures
that will increase the number of women in politics. But many have not been able to
implement them. Ghana has signed onto the Beijing Platform for Action and the
Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women
(CEDAW). Both documents have sections providing guidelines for increasing the
political representation of women. I those UN documents, a minimum of 30 percent
representation is proposed for women in all structures of governance. However this 30
percent minimum representation of women proposed by the UN has still not been
achieved and many governments do not seem ready to do so. The only form of the quota
76
that has ever been introduced in Ghana is the quota for ten women by the convention
peoples party (CPP) in 1960 by the late first president Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who
believed in the capacity of women. The national democratic congress (NDC) under the
leadership of Professor John Evance Atta Mills promised 40 percent representation to
women but this is yet to be fulfilled. In several African countries a number of
international instruments to promote women in politics have been ratified but not
significantly domesticated. The only way for countries and parties to involve women in
politics therefore is for women’s groups to increase pressure on their governments for
them to fulfill their promises to women by introducing an affirmative action initiative
such as the use of quotas.
2.36 Culture and Tradition
Some cultural norms and traditions do not encourage women to participate in
governance and politics. Traditionally, women are the king makers but women make the
decisions with the approval of men. Men are seen as in our cultures and traditional set
ups as natural leaders of the society. As such a woman venturing into such a space is seen
as challenging the traditional order. There are some proverbs which go to support such
claims such as if a woman buys a gun she leaves it in a man’s room. There are however
several positive traditional practices such as respect for womanhood which could be
transformed to benefit women as equal citizens.
77
2.37 Lack of Funds and Resources
Electioneering processes in Africa, and particularly in Ghana, involves a lot of money,
material and human resources. Women’s access to and control of productive resources
such as land and capital is minimal globally and in Ghana women constitute the majority
of the poorest of the poor. This makes it quite impossible for women to contest and win
any political position that may involve a lot of resources to embark on a campaign.
78
CHAPTHER THREE
METHODOLOGY
This chapter covers the general methodology used for the study. This chapter discusses
the research design, the population and the sample size, that is, the actual group who were
included in the study and from whom data was collected. The chapter also describes and
explains the research instruments used in the gathering of data. In addition, it explains the
method for administering the research instruments and the procedure for data analysis.
3.1 The Research Design
The study is purely a qualitative research. Qualitative research is a naturalistic inquiry,
the use of non-interfering data collection strategies to discover the natural flow of events
and processes and how participants interpret them. As it is, qualitative research is suitable
for this study to describe and analyse people, individuals and collective thoughts, beliefs,
perceptions and actions. Furthermore it enables the researcher to gather data by
interacting with the selected persons in their settings to obtain relevant documents on
topics under study (McMillan & Schumacher, 1997). Adding to the above, qualitative
research enables researchers to use smaller but focused sample in order to elicit in-depth
information or views from the respospondents.
Miles and Huberman (1994) postulate that qualitative research method is a complex,
changing and contested field conducted through an intense or prolong contact with a life
situation that reflects the everyday life of individuals, groups, societies or organizations.
According to Punch (2005), qualitative research method includes four main ideas:
strategy, the conceptual framework, the question of who or what is studied and the tools
to be used for collecting and analyzing empirical studies. This implies that when the
79
research questions are developed as the study unfolds the overall plan which is the
research design still needs to connect the questions to the data. He further stated that there
is also much overlapping between the purposes behind the two approaches than is
sometimes recognized.
In qualitative research, research questions are not framed by delineating variables or
testing hypothesis but most often they came from real world observation and dilemmas.
Depth and details are revealed through direct quotations and careful descriptions of
behaviour. Qualitative research takes a smaller but focused sample and categorizes data
into patterns as the primary basis for organizing and reporting results. Qualitative
research mostly derives their data base from interview transcript from open- ended,
focused but exploratory interviews. Other sources that constitute a qualitative data base
are recorded observation (both video and participatory), focus groups, texts and
documents, policy manuals, photographs, lay autobiographical accounts and others.
Holloway (1997) opines that qualitative research are often more concerned about
uncovering knowledge about the circumstances in which they find themselves than they
are in making judgments about whether those thoughts and feelings are valid, it is
exploratory in nature but can not be represented in mathematical terms.
In qualitative research method, the data collection consists of using forms with general
emerging questions to permit the participants to generate responses and to gather words
or image data (Creswell 2005). It is a site of multiple methodologies and research
practices which encompass enormous variety that result in understanding and clarity.
The study sought to evaluate the activities of an NGOs in the promotion of women’s
rights in Ghana. The study involved gathering of evidence about what the NGOs was
80
doing to promote women’s rights and drawing inferences. Thus the researcher employed
the qualitative method because the usage of the qualitative analysis to the research would
provide full description of the situation under study.
Research design is the programme that guides the researcher in the process of collecting,
analyzing, interpreting and observing. A research design in the opinion of Durkheim
(2000) is a strategic framework (or action) that serves as a bridge between questions and
the execution and implementation of the research. It is also an arrangement of conditions
for collecting and analyzing data which will be relevant to the researcher in the most
economical manner (Amoani, 2005). The evaluative methodology for this research is a
case study. A case study, according to Robson (2003), is a strategy for doing research
which involves an empirical investigation of a particular compulsory phenomenon within
its real life context using multiple source of evidence.
Creswell (2002) cited Creswell (1998) as saying that a case study is an in-depth
exploration of bounded process or individuals system based on extensive data collection.
According to McMillan and Schumacher (1997), a case study helps the researcher to
understand a phenomenon in-depth. It gives the researcher a deeper understanding of
what he she is researching into. They further stated that because of its flexibility and
adoptability to processes, people and context, it provides some of the most useful
methods in educational research. The researcher adopting a case study is based on the
pretence that the researcher aimed at finding out the role of NGOs in the promotion of
women’s rights in Ghana.
81
3.2 Population of the study
Avoke (2005) in his view sees population as a group of interest to a researcher for a
study. Punch (2005) opines that population is the total target group, the subject of the
research, and about whom the researcher is trying to say something. In this research, the
targeted population are some women who are beneficiaries of the programmes organized
by Abantu for Development
The researcher chose to work with the beneficiaries
because facts can be collected from such people to make the findings authentic.
Secondly, the researcher as well as stakeholders will know what NGOs are doing to curb
the problem of women abuse and how they are helping to promote and protect the rights
of women in the country.The population comprise of MPs and assembly women in
Central, Eastern,and Greater Accra region of the Republic of Ghana.
3.3 Sample Size
The sample size is a small group of people chosen from the targeted population and
getting a sample in a research is very important. This is because all members of the study
area cannot be studied. Miles and Hurberman (1994) are of the view that you cannot
study everyone everywhere doing everything, because of this; a sample size of 15
respondents were selected for the study. All fifteen respondents are women from the three
regions in Ghana.
3.4 Sampling Technique
The researcher adopted the convenience sampling technique to get a sample of 15
women as the respondents for this research. Convenience sampling technique is often
82
based on interview and questionnaire of homogeneous respondents who converge at a
particular point, Cohen andMarion (1995). It is a sampling method where the items that
are most conveniently available are selected as part of the sample.
3.5 Instrumentation
Interviews, observation and documentary analysis were the main tools used in gathering
data for the study. Other information was also gathered from website on the internet.
3.6 Interview
An interview schedule was designed as one of the data collection tools to further explore
into details the extent to which ABANTU has gone in promoting women right through
empowerment in Ghana. An interview is viewed as a two person conversation initiated by
the interviewer for the specific purpose of obtaining research relevant information
(Cannel & Kahn 1968) cited in Radnor (2002). Keith (2004) is of the view that interview
is one of the main data collection tools in qualitative research and a very good way of
assessing people’s perceptions.The interview was face-to-face on one-on-one basis.
According to Farewell and Wallen (2000) face to face interview is advantageous in data
collection for the fact that it places fewer burdens on the reading and writing skills of the
respondents when the need arises. In this regard, shy and slow speakers were allowed to
respond to questions at their own pace. Fraenkel and Walles (2000) however added that
the lack of anonymity may result in less valid responses to personally sensitive questions.
With this in mind, the researcher sincerely appealed to respondents to be genuine in their
responses. Confidentiality was emphasized. The semi structured interview type was
83
employed. Robson (2002) opines that in the form of interview situations the interviewer
works out some questions in advance but is free to modify their order based on his
perception of what seems most appropriate in the context. In this wise, interview
questions were produced in advance and some questions were paraphrased during the
interview session for better understanding of the interviewees.
3.7 The Interview Guide
Regarding the semi structured interview guide, the items were explained to them. During
the interview sessions, a tape recorder was used to record all that ensued in order to
ensure that the tape would be correctly transcribed. Reliability was ensured in this
research by pilot testing the interview schedule.
3.8 Observation
The researcher also observed the women who had had any assistance from Abantu for
Development in the performance of their work
3.9 Documentary analysis
Documents of various kinds such as newsletters, brochure, newspapers among others
were all used to gather data for this project.
3.10 Data Collection Procedure
Before the administration of the instruments, verbal consent was obtained from each of
the respondents. This was backed with a letter of introduction from the head of the Social
84
Studies Department, University of Education – Winneba. The letter was shown to the
respondents for approval (see appendix B). This letter which contained information about
the researcher and the purpose of gathering the data ensured a smooth and cordial
interaction with the respondents. All the data for the study was collected from three of the
regions in and a face to face interview was conducted for each of the respondents.
The researcher collected records of names of women to be sampled in each of the
regions. Arrangements were made with the respondents as to what time and dates were
appropriate and convenient for them to be interviewed. In all, the interviews and the
recordings were done personally by the researcher.
3.11 Validity
Validity means the extent to which an instrument measures what it is claimed to measure.
This means that the question of validity only applies to the conclusion or inference we
make from what we observe.
According to Anastasia (1988) as quoted in Onivehu and Amoah (2002) validity is the
degree to which a test or an instrument measures what it purposes to measure. In other
words validity is the extent to which an instrument measures what it is supposed to
measure. It also means that the question of validity only applies to the conclusion or
inference we make from what we observe. This is sometimes called face validity.
Zeller (1997) cited by Punch (2005) posit that inferences about validity cannot be made
solely on the basis of qualitative paradigm.The issue of validity in this study was
addressed using triangulation. Triangulation involves the use of multiple sources to
enhance the rigor of the research .To validate the instrument; face validity and content
85
validity were used. For example the face validity of the instruments was addressed by
giving them to supervisors and four lecturers from the social studies Department of the
University with specialisation in test and measurement for moderation. The content
validity focuses on whether the full content of a conceptual definition is represented in
the measure.
3.12 Reliability
Cohen Manion and Morrison (2003) explains reliability to mean that scores from an
instrument are stable and consistent, scores should nearly be the same when researchers
administer the instrument multiple times and that scores need to be consistent. Punch
(2005) defines reliability of a measure to tell us how much error variance is in the scores.
Even though all measures must in other words produce exactly the same measures of the
same object at different times. Thus he explains further that reliability enables us to
estimate error and since reliability and error are related reciprocally, the larger the
reliability, the smaller the error and conversely the smaller the reliability the larger the
error.
Reliability for the instruments was ensured by pilot testing the interview guide.
Regarding the semi- structured interview guide, permission was sought from the
respondents concerning their willingness to participate in the interview. The nature of the
interview guide was explained to them. During the interview session a tape recorder was
used to record all that ensued in order to ensure that the tapes would be correctly
transcribed. Reliability was ensured in this research by pilot testing the interview
schedule.
86
3.13 Method of Data Analysis
Since the study was the descriptive type, simple quantitative techniques involving
frequencies and percentages were used in the analysis of the data. Simple frequency
count was used to compute some responses on the interview questions. The responses of
the open-ended questions were grouped according to common ideas expressed and a
general pattern was sorted out of them. Frequencies were later established for the groups
of opinions to give a summarized view of the responses. Comparative analysis was made
and conclusions drawn based on the magnitudes of various responses.
3.14 Limitations
Some of the problems encountered by the researcher included difficulty in getting some
of the respondents to provide ready answers to the interview conducted.For this reason
the researcher had to visit the selected respondents several times before finally meeting
them to answer questions.
87
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA
4.0 Introduction
In the preceeding chapter, the research instrument and the processs adopted in collecting
the data were described. In ths chapter, the data obtained from the study population are
presented and analysed. The data are presented in tables and are arranged according to
the order of the four (4) research questions.This chapter presents the data collected from
women who have benefited from programmes Abantu has organized in the three of the
regions in Ghana.
4.1 Preliminary Data Analysis
This section discusses preliminary data about the respondents such as the region they
come from and their status.
Table 4.1 Distribution of respondents according to region
Regions
Frequency
Percentage (%)
Central
6
40
Accra
5
33.3
Eastern
4
26.67
total
15
100
Table 4. 1 The statetistics on table 4.1 shows the distribution of respondents according to
the three regions. Data on table 4.1 shows that six respondents, i.e. 40% were from the
Central Region of Ghana, 5, i.e. 33.3% were from the Greater Accra region and 4,
88
Representing 26.67 were from the Eastern Region thus bringing the total respondents to
15.
Table 4.2 Distribution of position of respondents
Position
Frequency
Percentage (%)
Assembly women
6
40
Member of parliament
1
6.67
Circuit Supervisors
8
53.33
Data from table 4.2 shows the distribution of the position of the respondents. The
statistics show that 6 respondents represention 40% were assembly women, one
respondent representing 6.67% was a member of parliament while 8 of the respondents
representing 53.33% were circuit supervisors. This implies that Abantu programmes are
open to women from all walks of life.
4.2 Presentation and discussion of interview results
This section presents and dicusses the result of the interview conducted. The result as
presented followed the themes in the research questions raised. The presentation which
formed the basis of the discussion consists of quantitative data and direct quotation of
respondents that were consistent with the issues that emerged from the themes. The major
themes that were in the research questions upon which data were collected, presented and
discussed were as follows:

Women’s awareness level about Abantu’s women’s right promotion,
89

Achievement of Abantus for Development in the promotion of Women’s rights in
Ghana,

Abantus operational strategies towards women’s rights,

Abantus challenges in the pursuance of women’s rights in Ghana,

The benefits from Abantu activities

Sustaining the activities of Abantu

Women’s level of participation in Abantu programmes
4.3 Research Question One: To what extent are women aware of the human rights
promotion objectives of Abantu for Development in Ghana?
This research question sought to find out whether the respondents were aware of what
Abantu for Development was doing to promote women’s rights in the country. This
question could also reveal whether Abantu was achieving one of their objectives.
Interview item 2 was used to answer this research question.
Table 4.3: Presents respondents’ knowledge on the specific objectives of Abantu of
Development in Ghana.
Item
Frequency
Percentage (%)
Excellent knowledge on objectives
7
46.67
Fairly good knowledge on objectives
6
40.00
Poor knowledge on objectives
2
13.33
Total
15
100
90
The statistics on table 4.3 show the responses to interview item 2 above which is on
respondents’ knowldege on the specific objectives of Abantu for development in Ghana.
The information from table 4.3 indicates that 7 respondents representing 46.67% had
excellent knowledge about the objectives of Abantu for Development. Six of them,
i.e.,40%, had fairly good knowledge about Abantu’s objectives. However 2 respondents
apperered to have poor knowledge about the objectives of Abantu for Development.
The following were some of their excellent responses rendered verbatim:
Abantu is out to educate people on womens rights.
They are in to help women to compete with men in politics.
They are to formulate policies that can be adopted by the government to help women
Some of those who had fairly good knowledge
about Abantu’s objectives for
development also said:
They are in to do away with marginalization.
They are here to train people.
Furthermore, one of those who had hazy ideas (poor knowledge) about Abantu and its
objectives had this to say:
I don’t know much about them, all I know is that they organize workshops for people
especially women.
4.4 Research Question Two:
To what extent has the Abantu for development achieved its set of objectives?
Abantu’s achivements were viewed from two perspectives these were political
perspective and peace building perspective.
91
To answer this research question, responses to interview items 5,6 and 7 were used.
These iterms were:
Item 5: How many women have benefited from Abantu’s assistance and for how long?
Item 6: Name the kinds of assistance Abantu is providing for these women.
Item 7: In your view what benfits have the community derived from Abantu’s effort to
empower women?
To answer interview item 5, the following responses were given by the respondents.
A lot of women have benefited.
Those who know of the programmes of Abantu do benefit.
The general information gathered from the responses given to this question is that the
respondents did not have facts and figures about Abantu’s beneficiaries probably due to
the fact that they do not get news letters from Abantu
regularly to up date their
knowledge, neither do they see and read advertisements and publications on their
activities.
Interview item 6: Name the kind of assistance Abantu is providing for these women.
Respondents gave a number of assistance provided by Abantu including social,
political,and educational in nature.these have been summed up from their verbatim
responses as given below;
They run workshops.
They help to campaign against discrimination against women
Abantu has provided the women manifesto to help promote the rights of women in
the country.
They organize capacity building workshop for Liberian refugees at Budumburam
92
They have established peace network
They help to increase awareness of governments about the need to include
gender,
peace and security processes
They help to increase the number of women aspirants in district elections.
From these responses it could be inferred that the respondents were conversant with the
assistance that Abantu was providing. This fair assessment of Abantu’s assistance could
be due to the fact that the kinds of assistance could be seen and appreciated. These
responses brought a follow up question which was:
Interview item 7; In your view what benefits have the community derived from
Abantu’s efforts to empower women?
Benefits from Abantu’s assistance could be viewed from two perspectives. These were
political perspective and peace building perspective. Respondents in responding to this
interview item commended Abantu highly.they gave a number of benefits that the
community had derived from Abantu’s efforts. These are as reflected in some of their
responses rendered below:
it has influenced the government to formulate policies to protect women
Vibrant women leaders are made to occupy certain positions in most communities
Women have gained insight into some cultural practices which violate the rights of
women.
Women now claim equal rights just as the men will have.
Women have been strengthened to be independent of men.
93
4.5 Research Question Three:
What activities and operational strategies has Abantu put in place to promote the
rights of women in the country?
This question sought to find out ways and means by which Abantu had been promoting
women’rights in the country. Responses from interview item 8 which was, In what
ways have Abantu been promoting women’s rights in Ghana. Responses were;
Through collaboration with government to promote and ehance the development of
women
Through the production of the Women’s Manifesto.
Creating opportunities to establish collaboration with quasi government institutions
example the NCCE and donor agencies.
Running workshops for media men to help promote women’s right using the media
Creating platform for women to air their views.
It can be deduced from the responses that Abantu has been contributing towards
women’s emancipation from traditional or cultural practices.
4.6 Resaerch Question Four
What are some of the challenges faced by Abantu in pursuing its objective of
promoting women’s rights?
This question sought to find out from respondents what they thought were the challenges
Abantu
was
facing
in
connection
with
question,responses to interview item 9 was used;
94
its
work.To
answer
this
research
Interview item 9: What problems in your view does Abantu as an NGO face?
Responses that came were many and varied and they touched on a number of areas as
can be ascertained from respondents responses given below;
I personally think that one thing Abantu faces as a challenge that has prevented Abantu
from achieving maximum impact is lack of community co-operation giving rise to delays
in project implementation.
Another respondent had this to say;

Inadequate staffing and lack of publicity.

Some community members are unwilling to participate in Abantu projects.
Such members think that it a is waste of time to go through such
programmes and gave the following reason;

Women in most communities always bow to the men and can’t assume
their position.

Some women don’t even know their rights

Publicity is low

Some husbands most often do not allow their wives to attend such
programmes because they think such programmes will make the women
rebellious.

Logistics are inadequate

In my view Abantu lacks personnel

People seem to have wrong perception about the activities of Abantu
which can draw their work back

They could face financial problems
95

A threat of source of funding drying up

The threat of beneficiaries not sustaining programmes
From the responses, conclusions that could be drawn from the sentiments expressed are
that majority of the women are not aware of when such programmes are held. Then again
some women do not know their rights and for that reason see no sense to participate in
the programmes. There are some who are also suspicious that some individuals may be
benefiting financially from the programmes whiles others might not get anything. This
affirms Digby Swifts’(2007) assertion that the biggest block to effective NGO activity is
lack of transparency of trust , which can be overcome through information sharing.
These responses attracted a follow up question which was:
In your opinion how can these problems be eliminated or reduced?
This question sought to find out whether the problems identified could be delt with. The
responses that came from some of the respondents are as stated below;

To me, I think that there should be massive campaign, educating people about the
rights of women.

Some of the problems are money issues. So, I think that the government should
help by giving them some money for their projects because these NGOs are
helping the government seriously.

More programmes should be organized for people to get to know them.

We do not hear about their programmes. So advertisements should be made to tell
the public about their programmes.
96
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This final chapter analysizes and discusses the findings that emerged from the study. The
discussions were done under the major themes that emerged during the data analysis. The
major themes were; women’s awareness level about Abantu’s women’s right promotion,
achievement of Abantu’s for Development in the promotion of women’s rights in Ghana,
Abantu’s operational strategies towards women’s rights, Abantu’s challenges in the
pursuance of women’s rights in Ghana, the benefits of Abantu’s activities and their
accomplishments. Other sub- themes include, sustaining the activities of Abantu, and
women’s level of participation in Abantu programmes.
The interview items were looked at in the light of the research questions raised for the
study. The interview items were analysed using thematic approach. The first section of
the interview guide demanded for interviewee’s qualification, and status or type of work.
The second comprised of 10 items on the main study. It also gives the conclusions drawn
and recommendations made based upon the findings that emerged. It finally ends with
suggestions for further studies.
5.0 Discussion
This section discusses the findings from the interview data. The interview centred on
soliciting in-depth views of respondents on the role of NGOs in the promotion of
women’s rights with specific attention on Abantu for Development (Ghana). Broadly,
Abantu’s role could be viewed from two perspectives i.e. political and social. This study
specifically looked at respondents awareness level about the Abantu for Development
97
NGO and its achievements and how beneficial its activities have been to those who have
been privileged to be involved in their programmes. It also looked at the challenges faced
by Abantu and possible ways of reducing those threats. The findings are discussed under
the themes that emerged during the analysis of the interview data which were based on
the research questions. These are:

Women’s awareness level of Abantu’s women’s rights promotion

Abantu’s achievements

Benefits from Abantu’s operation

Challenges that Abantu faces

Solution to the challenges
5.1 Women’s Awareness Level of Abantu’s Women’s Right Promotion
The first research question was on women’s awareness of the rights as being advocated
by Abantu. According to the responses from the interviews, the awareness level of the
respondents was quite high because as many as 86.67% of them had excellent to fairly
good knowledge about Abantu’s women’s right promotion activities. This meant that
they had been active, had participated in programmes and had thus become enlightened
and would hopefully insist on their rights anywhere. This finding conflicts with Amu’s
(2003) assertion that women are passive and did not really care much about issues even
when the issues concerned them. This passive attitude probably may have developed
from the traditional perception about women that they are the weaker sex and should
therefore play the subservient role. These perceptions about women according to Deckard
(1983) have caused their marginalization. From the study however, only 13.33% (i.e. 2)
98
had low level of awareness about their rights as championed by Abantu. This low level of
awareness could be explained that perhaps they have not been involved much in Abantu
programmes. It can therefore be surmised that women have high level of awareness about
the role Abantu is playing in promoting women’s rights.
5.2 Abantu’s achievements
When respondents were asked to cite some programmes which have been undertaken
successfully by Abantu and which have helped to project the rights and image of women,
they cited a number of programmes including these:
the preparation of the women manifesto to educate women on their rights in
Ghana and to base on that to make claims from the government in favour of the
women; organizing a number of leadership workshops for women to assume
political roles in the country; holding workshops for the media men to sensitize
them on the rights of women and to preach against discrimination against women
among others.
These responses show clearly that Abantu, the first women’s rights organization in West
Africa sub-region, had really organized programmes in the direction of promoting
women’s rights and in other aspects of life. These responses go to commend Abantu on
its achievement. They also attest to the fact that Abantu for development is achieving
some of its goals. The responses that Abantu organize workshops to empower women to
take up political posts are also indicative of their being focused and goal- directed.
Indeed, promoting women in political life requires attention to facilitate links and
dialogue between women inside and outside political structures.
99
When these responses are considered, then these outcomes find expression in Nelson and
Chowdhury’s(1999) assertion that women’s participation in politics creates the congenial
atmosphere needed to harmonize gender relations in politics. They further state that
democracy without a reasonable number of women is not democracy. From the above
discussion it can be inferred that Abantu’s achievement has been tremendous in the
direction of helping women to shed off traditional beliefs and practices that suppress their
development.
5.3 Benefits from Abantu programmes
The results that emerged from the analysis of data collected from respondents indicate
that women who participated in Abantu programmes have benefited greatly. It was
revealed that beneficiaries of Abantu programmes have had their political and social
potentials awakened, Abantu had enhanced their capacity and increased their integration
into the political and economic structures. This implies that women will no longer be
content with stereotyping, i.e. tied to traditional feminine roles only. Women could now
voice out their ideas and opinions, they could participate in social issues without feeling
inadequate. They could also assert themselves in matters that affect them and play
leading roles in correcting social injustices (i.e. Creation and possession of wealth). It has
become evident from the varied benefits cited by respondents that a new image for
women is being created through Abantu’s programmes and strategies; a new image for
women which will no longer be marginalized or seen as the weaker sex, but who will be
accorded some amount of dignity and respect. These issues discussed go to affirm that
100
Abantu programmes have had specific benefits on participants and have influenced them
greatly.
5.4 Challenges that Abantu faces
Abantu like all human institutions has its threats or challenges. The results indicated that
despite the immeasurable benefits that come from Abantu’s contributions towards
improving the rights of women it faces a lot of challenges. Some of thes are attitudinal
whiles others are financial and social in character. For instance, some of the respondents
indicated that people had negative perception about Abantu and its operations. Some also
wondered how about Abantu’s resources in terms of personnel and logistics could
support its operations. Some concerns expressed were on the issue of continued services
to the community.
There were also comments made about participants and their
attendance at such workshops mounted by Abantu. These threats to the operation of
Abantu programmes notwithstanding, the organization appears to be in control of issues.
It can therefore be said that although the organization (Abantu) has challenges, yet it is
serving Ghana fairly well.
5.5 Solutions to the challenges
Abantu, like all human endeavour’s, have problems. In eliciting ideas from respondents
on the issue of reducing or eliminating the organization’s challenges, a number of
suggestions came up. These could be grouped into long and short term solutions.
The short term solutions were on publicity and increase in the number of people who
participate in programmes and also in the number of activities or programmes run. It was
101
therefore suggested that Abantu should publicize or advertise its activities for public to
hear about them and to appreciate their contributions in Ghana.
The long term solution was on funding. Respondents suggested that there should be
goodwill from the government in the form of cash flow and also from benefactors and
corporations, companies and other institutions.
From the above it can be seen that measures could be put in place to solve the identified
problems. The inference is that when these suggestions are applied, Abantu could be
sustained and it would flourish to serve the country better.
5.6 Summary of findings
This study was carried out to investigate the role of NGO’s in the promotion of women’s
rights with particular reference to Abantu for Development ,Ghana. It used four research
questions . literature was viewed on a number of issues.
Interviews were used to gather qualitative data. The target population was women who
had benefited from Abantu programmes. A sample size of 15 was used and the thematic
approach was used in analyzing the data collected . This analysis addresses the four
research questions that guided this study. The one–on-one interviews were analyzed to
address each research question. The interview session centered on soliciting in-depth
views of respondents on the impact of Abantu in the promotion of women’s rights, what
measures they have put in place to address the issue as well as their achievements and the
problems they face.
102
The findings of the study are summarized as follows:

Many participants were well informed and had excellent knowledge about the role of
Abantu for Development; however there were few whose level of awareness about
Abantu programme was low.

Womens human right abuses take varied forms

Achievements of Abantu were appreciable interm of promoting women’s right’s.

Benefits from Abantu programmes were many and varied. Specific benefits empowered
women to take up political and social positions. Women have also been enlightene to
fight agains traditional and cultural practices that are againts their rights.

Inspite of the Abantu’s numerous contributions towards promoting womens rights it faces
some challenges which are attitudinal, financial and social.

Abantu’s problems could be solved or reduced through short term and long term
5.7 Conclusions

Abantu has achieved its goal of empowering women to assume certain roles and
majority of women are aware.

They have helped to break the myth surrounding certain occupations branded as
jobs for the men.

Abantu has helped to ensure that government absorbs women in the decisionmaking process in the country.

Abantu has helped to highlight on certain practices considered to be tradition or
custom as human rights violations and has advocated the elimination of these
practices
103

Women are timid and when they are the push as Abantu has been doing it helps to
romove that timidity

Women need enlightenment that came from systematic and well thought out
programmes

Well structured programmes for women can help to make them independent of
men

Abantu’s programmes have thrown light on some of the articles in the constitution
as well as other documents on some provisions available protecting women in the
country
5.8 Recommendations
The following recommendation are made for the stakeholders like women in general
service providers, NGOs and government/policy makers:

Women should learn to be less dependent on men and break away from traditional
beliefs and practices.

They should make time to participate in such programmes that will educate or
inform them about their rights.

Abantu should organize more programmes and increase the number of people
they invite to participate.

Operators of Abantu should spread their tentacles wide through out the country so
as to cover more women.

They should also increase their staff strength.

They should increase their publicity.
104

Other people and organizations must be encouraged to join in the campaign
against violation of women’s rights

The government should support all ventures geared towards promoting women’s
right.s

Laws about womens right must be rigidly enforced .

People who violate women’s rights and brutalise women must be sanctioned.

The government should strengthen women’s rights’ institutions in the country.
5.9 Suggestions for Future Research
The research was limited in scope to a particular NGO, specifically Abantu for
Development, in the promotion of women’s rights in Ghana. However, there are many
other NGOs in Ghana with different areas of focus. The researcher recommends that
those interested in the areas of examining the roles of NGOs could focus their attention
on sanitation and health related activities, poverty alleviation, and the rights of the
physically- challenged and their education, among others.
105
REFERENCES
Aaronson, J. (1994). A Programmatic view of Thematic Analysis in the Qualitative
Report, Volume 2 Number 1, Spring, 19994.
http://www.nova.edu/ssss/OR/Rack Issues/QR 2-1/aronson.html.
Abaka, C.C. (2000). The Doctor who also Cares About Women’s Rights. In Dolphyne,
F.A
(Eds), The Woman Achievers from The Ashanti Region of Ghana.
(Pp.31-42) CEDEP Woman’s Forum, Ghana.
Abdalla, R. H. D. (1982). Sisters in Affliction: Cicumcision and Infibulation in Women
in Africa. London: Zed Press.
Acheampong, K. (2004). Aid for Self-Help Effort: A Sustainable Alternative Route to
Basic
Education in Northern Ghana, Centre for International Education,
University of Sussex.
Adler, Z. (1987). Rape on Trial. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
Adepoju, A. (1994). The Demographic Profile: Sustained High Mortality and Fertility
and Migration for Employment. In Gender, Work, and Population in SubSaharan Africa, eds. Adrenti Adepoju and Christine Oppong, pp. 17-34.
London; J.Currey.
Ampadu-Nyarko, J. (2007, December 6) women should look for Leadership Position
Daily Graphic (Accra).
Andreas, E. (2005), Non-Governmental Organisations in China: Programme on NGOs
and Civil Society Centre for Applied Studies in International Negotiations,
Santarland.
106
Annual Report of the National Council on Women and Development (NEWD) 19801984. Also, Tsikata, Edzodzinam, “Womens’s Political Organization 19511987” in the State Development and Politics in Ghana. Hanson E. and K.
Ninsin (eds.), (London: Codesria Book Series 1989) P. 91
Assimeng, M. (1999). Social Structure of Ghana: A study in Persistence & Change.
Publishing Corporation, Accra, Ghana: Ghana
Attack, I. (1999). For Criteria of Developing NGG Legitimacy World Develop, 27, (5),
855-864.
AWID (2008): An Overview of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness & the New
Aid Modalities, Aid Effectiveness and Women’s Rights Series, Primer No 1.
Baden, S. (1999)’Gender, Governance and the Feminization of Poverty’, background
paper no. 2, Meeting on Women and Political Participation: 21st Century
Challenges, United
Nations Development Programme, New Delhi 24-
26 March Babbie, E.R & Monton, S.
(2001)
The
practice
of
social
research Cape Town Oxford University press Southern Company.
Baffour-Awuah, J. (2007, December 6) Ghana Demand Effective Implementation of DV
Act. Daily Graphic (Accra). Thursday December 6, 2007.p.41.
Bailey, M. (1999), Fundraising in Brazil: the Major Implications for Civil Society
Organisation and International NGOs. Development in Practice, vol.9, No
1&2, Brong Ahafo Network of Non-Governmental Organisations, (2009)
End of Year Report, 2009.
Banks, L. (1990) Angry Men and Working Women: Gender, Violence and Economic
Change in Qwaqwa in the 1980s. African Studies 53 (1) 89-114
107
Barnett, O.W., Martinez, J.E& Keyson, M. (1996). The Relationship between Violence
&Social Support and Self Blame in Battered Women. Journal of
interpersonal violence 11,221- 233.
Basirika, E.L. (1993) Structural adjustment &women in the informal sector: The case of
market
women in Kampula & Jinja towns. Kampala, Uganda: Uganda
Economics Association & Friedrich Ebert Foundation.
Baumgartner, T.A.et al. (2002) Conducting and reading research in health & human
Performance. Boston, McGraw.
Biennial Report (2005&2006), The Ark foundations, Ghana.
Bless. & Higson- Smith. (2000). Fundamentals of Social Research methods. An African
perspective. Lans-downe. Juta & company Ltd.
Boatema-Afrakoma, N. (2000). The Queen mother of Juansa. In Dolphyne, F.A (Eds).
Ten Women Achievers from the Ashanti Region of Ghana. (pp.61-67).
CEDEP Women’s Forum, Ghana.
Brink, H.I. (1996) Fundamental of Research Methodology for Health Care
Professionals.
Kenwyn. Juta & Comp Ltd Brochure-crisis Response
Centre project, Accra - The Ark Foundation Ghana.
Brown, B. (1970) Women in Botswana”. In Women and the State in Africa, ed. Jane L.
Parpart
and Kathleen Staudt, pp. 257-278. Boulder, CO: Westview.
Byamukamn D.C. (2005) Legal Strategies to increase Ugandan women’s access to
higher
education. In J.Bond (E.d), Voices of African women: women’s
rights in Ghana. Uganda and Tanzania (pp.11-27).Ducham.NC: Carolina
Academic Press.
108
Callamerrd, A. (1998) Breaking the collision of silence In I.L.Sajar (Ed.) Common
grounds: Violence against women in war & conflict situations (pp 59-76),
New Delho, India: Asian Center for HR.
Chigudu, H. & Tchigwa, W. (1995) ‘Participation of Women in Party Politics,
Zimbabwe Women’s Resource Centre and Network, Discussion Paper
(February).
Clark, (1990). Democratizing development: The Role of Voluntary Organizations, West
Hartford, CT: Kumarian press.
Cobbinah, J.A (2005). Human Right& The Ghana constitution Flolu, J & Awoyemi, M
(Eds), Introduction to HR Education (pp 77-86). Cantoments, Accra:Black
mask Ltd
Coker, A. L., Smith, P. H., Bethea, L., King, M. R., & McKeown, R. E. (2000).
Physical health consequences of physical and psychological intimate partner
violence. Archives of Family Medicine, 9(5), 451-457.
Coker-Appiah, D. (2002) Advocacy for better Implementation of Women’s Rights in Ghana.
Accra: Yamens Press Ltd.
Copelon, R. (1994). Intimate Terror: Understanding Domestic Violence as Torture. In
Human Rights of Women: National and International Perspectives, ed.
Rebecca J. Cook, pp. 116-152. Philadephia: University of Pensylvannia
Press.
Cutru F., Mani R. (1985) Women of Africa: Roots of Oppression. London: Zed Press,
1985 P.
109
Dangor, Z. (1999). Life after Abuse: An Explosion of Women’s Strategies for
Overcoming Abuse. Unpublished Doctoral Thesis, Johannesburg, Rard
Afrikaons University.: Heinemann.
Delius, P. (1997). A Lion amongst the Cattle: Reconstruction and Resistance in the
Northern Transvaal. Westport, CT
December, G. (1999). Gender Violence in Africa. Hampshire: Macmillan Press Ltd.
DFID (1999b): Streghtening Support for Civil Society, DFID, London.
Dolphyne, F.A (2009) The Woman Academic. In Dolphyne, F.A (Eds), Ten Women
Achievers from the Ashanti Region of Ghana (pp 77-86) CEDEP WOMENS
Forum Ghana.
Dokernoo, E. (1994). Cutting the Rose: Female Genital Mutilation, The Practice and its
Prevention. London: Minority Rights Group.
El Saadawi, N. (1981). The Hidden Face of Eve: Women in the Arab World. Boston:
Beacon
Press.
Fisher, J. (1998). Non Governments: NGOs and the Political Development of the Third
World. Connecticut: Kumarian Press,.
Fowler, A. (1990). Where and How NGOs Have a Comparative Advantage In
Facilitating Development, University of Reading, AERDD Bulletin.
Fulan, M. (2000). The Return of Large Scale Reform, Ghana Core Wefare Indicators
Survey Report, Statistical Service, Accra.
Ellerman, D. (2002). Autonomy-Respective Assistance:Toward New Strategies for
Development Assistance, Centre for African Studies, University of
Edinburgh.
110
Ghanaian Times, (1988,January 6 quoted in Tsikata E., “Women’s Organization and the
State
in Ghana 1951-1989”, op. cit. p. 144
Hicks, E. K. (1993). Infibulation: Female Mutilation in Islamic North Eastern Africa.
New
Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers.
Hosken, F. P. (1981) Towards a Definition of Women's Rights' in Human
Rights Quarterly, Vol. 3, No. 2. pp. 1-10, Internet WWW page at URL: Retrived:
http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?collection=journals&handle=hein.jo
urnals/hurq3&div=16&id=&page= (22/05/2010)
Huang, H. (2005) Poverty Alleviation Activities by Save the Children (UK), China
Program, Retrived: http://www. helppoverty.org.cn/helpweb2/ngoyj/ngoyj8.htm (last visited Oct. 4, 2008)
Human Rights, Britannica 20, Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc. 2003.ed.
Human Rights Watch. (1995a). Violence Agaisnt Women in South Africa. New York:
Human
Rights Watch.
Human Rights Training and Education, Lecture by E.F Short, Commissioner of Human
Rights
and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Ghana, at a seminar by
CHRAJ on Human Rights
Education in 1997.
Hoch-Smith, J. (1978). Radical Yuroba Female Sexuality: The Witch and the Prostitute.
In Women in Ritual and Symbolic Roles, eds. Judith Hock-Smith and Anita
Spring, pp. 245- 267. New York: Plenum Press.
Katsriku, B. (1996). Overview of Government of Ghana/NGO Relationship, Paper
presented at
GOG/NGO Consultative Workshop, 10-11 October 1996,
Accra.
111
Kelly, L. (1988). Surviving Sexual Violence. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota
Press.
Manu, (1984). Law and the Status of Women in Ghana: Addis Ababa; UN ECA
Research Series, 1984 P. 3
Megyenyi, M.R. (19998). Towards the empowerment of women: A critique of NRM
Policies &
Programmes. In Developing Uganda H.B. Hansen & M.
Twaddle(Ed) Uganda (pp133-
144).Oxford, UK: James Currey.
Miller-Grandvaux, Y. & Yoder, K. (2002). A Literature Review of Community Schools
in Africa. Washinton D.C: USAID Bureau for Arica
Miller-Grandvaux, Y., Welmond, M., & Wolf, J. (2003). NGO Interractions With
Donors and
Governments: A Case Study in East Africa., Washington
D. C: USAID Bereau for Africa
Minnaar, A. V., Catherine, P. & Dirkie, O. (1992). All Women Are the Same and All
Women
Are Witches: Gender Violence and Its Relation
Venda. Twenty-forth
Witchcraft in
Annual Congress of the South African Sociological
Association,1992.
Mensah, A. B. (2001):Political Parties, Gender and Presentation: The Case of Ghana’s
Election 2000, in J. R. A. Aryee (ed.), Deepening Democracy in Ghana:
Politics of the
2000 Election, Vol. 1 (Accra Freedom Publications)
Mamashela, M. (1986). Lesotho: Women, Marriage and the Law. In Empowerment and
the Law: Strategies of Thirld World Women, ED. Margeret Schuler, pp. 126134. Washington, DC: OEF International.
112
Mies, M. (1986). Patriachy and Accumulation on a World Scale: Women in the
Interational Division of Labour. London: Zed.
Muchena, O. (1996). It Can Only be Handled by Women. In Sisterhood is Global: The
International Women’s Movement Anthology, ed. Robin Morgan, pp. 752755. New York: Fernisist Press.
Muchina, P. (2000) What are you Doing to Stop Violence Against Women & Girls in
Africa? In A.L Barstow(Ed), Wars Dirty Secret: Rape, Prostitution and other
Crimes Against Women (pp.101-123).Cleveland 04: The Pilgrim Press.
Obbo, C. (1980). African Women: Their Struggle for Economic Independence. London:
Zed.
Oquaye, M. (2004). Politics in Ghana, 1982-1992. Rawlings, Revolution and Populist
Democracy. New Dehl:. Thomson Press,
Ofei-Aboagye, E. (2000) ‘Promoting Women’s Participation in National Politics’,
Workshop Report Accra: Electoral Commission and Friedrich Ebert
Foundation.
Plomp, T. & Thijs, A. (2003). Priorities and Strategies for Improvement of Education,
Dutch Expertise Consortium for International Development of Education.
Rafter, N. H., & Stanko E. A, (eds.) (1984): Introduction. In Judge, Lawyer, Victim,
Thief, pp. 1-26. Boston: Northeastern University.
Reeks, P. (2007). The Contribution of Non-goernmental Organisation to the
Development of Educational Infrastructure in Ghana. An unpublished
thesis.
113
Romany, C. (1994). State Responsibility Goes Private: A Ferminist Critique of the
Public/Private Distinction in International Huma Rights Law. In Human
Rights Of Women: National and International Persrectives, ed. Rebecca J.
Cook, pp. 85-115. Phiadelphia. PA: University of Pensylvannia Press.
Roosevelt, F. D. (1941). The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “Four Freedoms”
speech to the US Congress on 6th January.
Seel, A. (2000). Can Sector Wide Approaches in Education and Development Reach the
Poor? Early Lessons from Uganda, Oxford International Conference on
Education and Development, London.
Sinha, S. & Commuri, C. (1998). Success by Strategic Co-optation: A Case Study from
India. Paper Presented at the Arnova Conference, Seattle, USA.
Smart, C. (1989). Ferminism and the Power of Law. London: Routledge.
The Constitution of the Republic of Ghana (1992).
Townsend C. (1999) Power from within: Getting suit of that home! In J. Townsend, E.
Zapata, J. Roland, P. Albert & M. Mercado, Woman and Power; Fighting
patriarchies and poverty
(pp.62-84).London; Zed Books.
Toubia, N. (1993). Female Genital Mutilation: A Call for Global Action. New York:
Women Ink.
Tripp, A.M. (1998). Local women’s Association’s Politics in Contemporary Uganda. In
H.B. Hansen & M. Twaddle (Eds), Developing Uganda (pp120-132 Oxford
UK: James Currey.
Tsholofelo, S.G. (n.d). Abused Women & Training Retrieved March 11, 2008, from
http//etd.rau.ac.za/thesis/available/etd.
114
Tsikata, Edzodzinam, “Women’s Organization and the State in Ghana, 1951-1989”. A
research paper presented to the institute of social studies, The Hague,
November 1989, P. 137
NCWD Annual Report 1980-1984 Quoted in Tsikata, E. “Women’s organizations and
the state in Ghana 1951-1989”, op. cit.p.125
UNDP (1993). Human Development Report, New York:Oxford University Press.
USAID (2002). Support for Analysis and Research
in Africa
(SARA) Project,
Washington D.C
U. S State Department. (1989-1997). Annual Reports to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, U.S House of Representitives and Committee on Foreign Relations,
U. S. Senate, Country
Report on Human Rights, 1989-1997, Washington
DC: U.S State Department.
World Bank (2003). Making Services Work for People. World Development Report,
Wishington.
Barr A., Fafchamps M., and Trudy O., (2005), the governance of NGOs in Uganda.
World Development. Vol. 33, No 4 pp 657-679.
Bob Milliar. G, (2005) Non Governmental Organsations in Ghana-profit making
organisations. Retrived January 18, 2011 from
http.//www.ghanaweb.com//ghanahomepage/features/article.php
Bridget, K. (1997). The Growth of Non-Governmental organisations in Ghana. NGO
Forum a News Letter for NGOs in Ghana. Issue 2 No.2 August 1997
Edwards, M. (2000) Non-Governmental organisations Performance and Accountability
Beyond the Magic Bullet, London: Earthscan
115
Fafchamps, M. & Trudy, O. (2006). Is International Funding Crowding out Charitably
Contribution in African NGOs? Please Global Poverty Reduction Group
Fernand, V. (2006) Non-Governmental Organisation, Social Movement, External
Funding and Dependency. Society for Intenation Development Refered
1011-6370/06 http//www.sidint.org/development accessed 6 may, 2011
Ghana Statistical Service (2002), 2000 Population and Housing Census
Helen, C: Cunt, G. & Sujata, R. (2005), Enguaging local Non-Governmental
Organisations in The Response to HIV/AIDs. Washinton D.C: Pact Inc
Holloway, R. (2001) Towards Financial Self Reliance. A Handbook of Approach to
Resource Mobilization. London: Earthscan.
Issa G. (2005). Silence in NGOs in Discourse: the Role and Future of NGOs in Africa.
Keynote paper presented to the Symposium on NGOs at the MS-Financing
centrefor development cooperation in Arusha,Tanzania 28-29 November
2005
Lee D. (1997). The Non-Governmental organization entrepreneur: non-profit in purpose,
for profit in Approach-new direction in NGO self financing John Hopkings
SAIS. Sept 1997 refered October 2, 2012
http//www.isar.org/pubs/st/ngo/48.html.
Lekorwe, M. (2007), Managing Non-Governmental Orgnisations in Bortwana: The
Innovation Journal. The Public Sector Innovation Journal vol 12, No. 3 2007,
Artical 10. P. 12
Moor, D. (2005), Laws and other Mechanisms for promoting NGO finanacial
sustainability. The Journal of Developmentstudies vol. 2. No 3 pp. 145.
116
Porter, G. (2003), Non-Governmental and poverty Reduction in a Globalised world.
Perspective from Ghana. Progress in Development studies vol. 2. No 3 pp.
131-145
Teegan, H. Doh, J, & Vachoni, S. (2004), The Importance of Non-Governmental
Organisations in Global Govenance and Value Creation. An international
Business Research Agenda, Journal of International Bussiness Studies, Vol
35 No 6 pp. 463-483.
Turary, A. (2002), Sustainability of Local Non-Governmental Organisations in Ghana.
MSc Thesis Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
Department of Planning.
117
APPENDIX A
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL STUDIES
AN INTERVIEW GUIDE ON THE ROLE ABANTU IN WOMEN
EMPOWERMENT
INTERVIEW GUIDE FOR STAFF
Dear respondent, the interview is designed to evaluate the activities of Abantu in the
promotion and empowerment of women in Ghana.
You are entreated to provide frank response to the interview direction. All information
given will be treadt with absolute confidentiality.
A. Personal Data
a. Age
20 – 30yrs 31 – 40yrs 41-51yrs 51 – 60 over 60yrs
b. Sex
male
female
c. Position director
Area manager
Project facilitator
Others (specify) …………………………………………..
d. Educational background Secondary Polytechnic, University other (specify)
……….........................................................................................
B. Objectives
1. What are the general objectives of Abantu?
2. What are the specific objectives of Abantu in Ghana?
118
3. Are members of the communities explicitly aware of the objectives and activities
of your organization? How do you know?
4. What are the criteria for selecting women to benefit from Abantu Ghana projects?
5. How many women have benefited from Abantu assistance and for how long have
these women been benefiting from your programmes?
6. How many women are benefiting from Abantu country wide?
7. For how many years has Abantu been operating in the country?
8. Name the kinds of assistance Abantu is providing for these women.
C. Impact
9. How would you describe the general status of women ……………………...
How would you describe the conditions of these women after Abantu came in. Give
reasons.
10. How do you assess the status of women who are assisted for the past five years in
terms or their performance, are they effective, increasing in number or there is no
change?
11. How do you assess the standard of women who have not received in terms of their
effectiveness and their participation in programmers?
119
12. In general how do you assess the standard of women benefiting from Abantu as
compared to those that are not assisted by Abantu?
13. In your view, what benefit have the women derived from Abantu effort of
empowering women?
14. What problems in your view does your organization face in its attempt to
empower women?
D. Suggestions
15. How do you think these problems could be resolved?
16. In your view, what else should be done to ensure that all women are empowered?
17. Do the women of the communities provide any support for your activities? If yes
what contributions do they make into these programmes.
18. How do you describe the women ……………………..
19. How would you describe the government / district assembly to your efforts at
empowering women?
20. Does the government or district assemblies provide any assistance for your
activities? If yes what contribution does the government make into these
programs?
21. Does Abantu intern to continue the project in the country for the next ten or more
years? Give reasons.
22. How does Abantu obtain its resources?
23. Can this source of finance ensure the provision of assistance for empowering
women in all communities indefinitely?
120
If no when is the programme likely to end?
24. Suppose you were the sole controller of Abantu Ghana Programmes/projects what
will you do to ensure the organization’s projects are sustained indefinitely.
25. Comparing the efforts of government/district and Abantu which do you think can
better empower women in rural communities. Give reasons for your choice.
INTERVIEW GUIDE FOR BENEFICIARIES
A.
Personal Data
1.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Age
Sex
Occupation
Educational background
Objectives
2.
B.
(e) Is Abantu providing any assistance to you
(f) Why do you think Abantu is providing this assistance?
Activities
Do you know of any project or programme embarked upon by the
government/district Assembly? Aimed at empowering women in the country
in the past five years? If yes state some.
Impact
1. Which NGO’s programmes do women attend most in Ghana? Why do you think
most women prefer these Ngo’s programmes?
2. How do you assess the performance of these beneficiaries for the past five years
in terms of its effectiveness?
3. How do you assess the performance of non-beneficiaries?
121
In general how do you assess the performance of beneficiaries?
4. In your view how do you assess the standard of Abantu beneficiaries compared to
that of women who are not beneficiaries?
5. In your view benefit have the community derived from Abantu’s efforts to
empower women.
B.
Problems
Which problems in your view do Abantu face in its effort to empower
women?
As a beneficiary do you have any sentiment(s) about the activities of Abantu?
If yes what are your sentiment?
C.
Suggestions
How do you think the problems you have identified could be resolved?
In your view, what else should be done to ensured the standards of women are
improved to highest possible level?
What other suggestions can you make toward the empowerment of women?
D.
Sustainability
Are the women involved in carrying out the project/programmes initiated by
Abantu? If yes which contributions do the people make into the project?
122
What about those projects initiated by the government/district Assembly? Did
it involve community participation?
If yes what contribution did the women make into these projects?
How do you assess the future of the project by government in terms of
continuous existence? Why do you think so?
Compare the efforts of government/district assembly and Abantu which one
do you think can better improve the empowerment of women?
Give reasons for your choice.
Do you think the status of women in the rural areas be raised to the level as in
the cities with the efforts of Abantu?
Give reasons for your choice.
123
124