Empowering Rural Women in Ghana through ICT
GLORIA FOFIE Sunyani Polytechnic, Ghana This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it JUANITA POKUAA Sunyani Polytechnic, Ghana This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
ABSTRACT
Like many developing countries, Ghana’s population continues to be rural and agrarian, despite the growing urban population. Women constitute approximately 50% of the Ghanaian population and are mostly rural dwellers engaged in agricultural production, the backbone of the Ghanaian economy. Their impact can also be significantly identified in the informal sector of the economy. However, in spite of their engagement in and awesome contribution to society, rural women are less endowed in terms of resources and wealth.
The persistent and increasing burden of poverty especially on rural women continues to be the concerns of many governments and international organizations as they have recognised that women’s empowerment is a central precondition for the elimination of poverty. The growth and development of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has led to their wide diffusion and application around the world. This phenomenon has made enormous strides in many ways that has led to improvements in standard of living and increased productivity.
The paper takes a look at the challenges confronting rural women and ICT in Ghana and how this intervention can be packaged in support of the empowerment of rural women and development. It also seeks to examine the level and extent of integration of ICTs in the operations of rural women in Ghana and how this could lead to creation of new employment opportunities.
The research is based on; review of literature, key informants interviews, and participant observations. The results indicate among other things that, Knowledge and information are basic ingredients for sustainable rural development and women’s empowerment and are essential for facilitating rural development and bringing about economic and social change that is so much desired. Policies on ICT must therefore embrace the specific needs of rural women in order to ensure that knowledge and information on important technologies, methods and practices are put in the right hands. The promotion of the integration of ICT in the activities of rural women could make them proactive enough towards their contribution to and participation in the affairs of the nation.
Keywords: Rural Women, Empowerment, Information Communication Technology.
