Abstract:
Access to higher education is a global critical issue
which also is fundamental to stakeholders of education in Ghana
today. Presently, Ghana’s Education Agenda 2030 has a focus on
ensuring an increase and expansion of access, equity and
inclusion to quality education. Although Ghana has a target
based on SDG4 to eliminate gender disparities in education at all
levels and ensure equal access there are still disparities in female
participation in higher education standing at 0.69 in 2017 and
40% of students enrolled in higher education in 2017 being
female. The main purpose of this paper is to review the issue of
gender disparities in educational access to higher education in
Ghana. The focus of the study was on one of most disadvantaged
areas in terms of female access and participation in higher
education in Ghana namely the Odompo and Ayeldo
communities in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese (AAK) District of
the Central Region. Using a qualitative research paradigm,
thirty-three respondents sampled using snowballing technique
comprised opinion leaders, girls who have completed Senior
High school, assembly men and women, and chiefs of the
community were interviewed using a semi structured interview
guide. This was done to acquire an in-depth understanding of the
situation and meanings participants attached to the concept of
female participation in higher education. A case study design was
used answer the research questions; What factors affect female
participation in higher education? and What are the perceptions
of the members of the community towards female participation
in higher education? It was found out that socio-cultural, school
related, economic, as well as political and institutional policy
practices factors caused impediments to female access and
participation in higher education. Also, it was found that given
the opportunity the girls want to participate in higher education.
Recommendations made included the need for stakeholders to
mobilise resources for adequate financing of education and
continued education to create aware
