Assessment of Gender Perspectives of the Ghana Forest investment Programme in the Western Region

Abstract

Gender inequality is perceived to exist in forest management and initiatives such as GFIP. This study assessed men and women's participation in GFIP activities, effects on environment and livelihood, and challenges thereof and means of their livelihood alleviation in the Asankragwa Forest District. The study employed cross-sectional, descriptive and explanatory designs and a structured and semi-structured questionnaire for data collection. Data was collected from 130 respondents selected from eight communities within Wassa Amenfi Central District, Wassa Amenfi West District, and Upper Denkyira West District in the Asankragwa Forest District. Frequencies, percentages and the chi-square statistical tools were used to analyse the data obtained for the study. The results obtained indicate that both men and women play an active role in implementing GFIP modules except in sacred groove management and enrichment planting modules in which only males are involved. Also, five factors influenced respondents participation in GFIP but only “complementing farming” was significant (p = 0.04). GFIP aids environmental benefits such as, restoring degraded forest reserves, regulating water regimes, regulating climate, and sequestration of carbon emissions. On the livelihood benefits, GFIP provides job opportunities and financial assistance. Nevertheless, it was ascertained that some challenges such as limited working equipment and delay in payment of workers allowances affect both men and women participating in GFIP in the district. The study concludes that the Forestry Commission consciously engages more women in GFIP and addresses the challenges of delayed workers' allowances, delays in payment of seedlings supplied and low motivation.