Kumasi: A Professor of Human and Development Geography at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has highlighted the growing feminisation of poverty in Ghana, emphasizing that women, particularly in rural areas, are disproportionately affected by deprivation. Professor Prince Osei-Wusu Adjei delivered these insights during his professorial inaugural lecture held at the university's Great Hall.
According to Ghana Web, Professor Osei-Wusu Adjei addressed the theme 'Is Poverty a Rural Phenomenon?' and shared findings from his research and policy brief, which reveal significant gender and geographic disparities in poverty patterns across Ghana. He noted that poverty is more prevalent and severe among women, particularly in developing countries like Ghana, and identified rural communities as areas with higher multidimensional poverty indicators compared to urban settings.
The professor also discussed how chronic rural poverty drives migration, resulting in depopulation of rural communities as economically active residents move to cities in search of better opportunities. His findings indicate that 'seven out of every ten economically active rural inhabitants exhibit an urge to leave for an urban area,' underscoring deep-rooted structural challenges in rural livelihoods.
Further, Professor Osei-Wusu Adjei addressed issues related to women's education and economic participation, pointing out that although more women in Ghana are attaining higher education levels, this progress has not translated into equal economic opportunities. He attributed this disparity to the absence of suitable affirmative policy actions, which has left women with limited economic participation and political empowerment.
The professor emphasized that current poverty reduction efforts often fail due to their focus on short-term relief rather than long-term empowerment. He advocated for a shift toward capability-driven strategies and recommended the implementation of appropriate policy interventions and affirmative action plans to enhance women's economic participation and political empowerment.
In conclusion, Professor Osei-Wusu Adjei called for a rethinking of existing approaches by governments and development actors, urging them to adopt long-term strategies that address the structural causes of poverty, particularly among women and farming communities.