The Shea Network Ghana (SNG) an organization of shea sector businesses, stakeholders and value-chain actors, in partnership with OXFAM Ghana and WiLDAF on Friday August 16, 2024, launched the second phase of a Land Lab pilot that aims at improving women’s access to and use of land in Ghana.
The Land Laboratory (Land Lab) is a prototype that tries to find solutions to factors challenging women’s ownership and usage of land for economic purposes.
The launch of the second phase, took place at Kananto in the West Gonja Municipality of the Savanna Region and will build on the foundations laid during phase one.
Various speakers at the event, noted deep-rooted cultural, legal, and economic barriers as factors hindering women’s full participation in land ownership and management.
They also said phase two of the pilot project was designed to address the identified challenges head-on, using the insights gained from the first phase to develop practical solutions that can be implemented at the community level.
“This phase will focus on testing and refining approaches that aim to dismantle the barriers to women’s land ownership and ensure that they can benefit from the economic opportunities that secure land tenure provides” one of the speakers noted.
The launch event brought together a diverse group of key stakeholders, reflecting the importance of the issue at hand. Among those in attendance were traditional authorities, Forestry Commission Ghana, Mole Game Reserve, Legal agencies, Farmer Associations, among others
Connecting to the WEACT Project
The Land Lab, is a critical component of the larger Women’s Economic Advancement for Collective Transformation (WEACT) initiative, implemented by SNG, OXFAM Ghana, and WiLDAF Ghana, with funding from Global Affairs Canada. The WEACT project aims to empower women economically by addressing the systemic issues that hinder their progress, including land rights.
By focusing on land acquisition, the prototype, seeks to create a model for resolving land disputes and facilitating women’s access to land, which is essential for their economic empowerment. Through community engagement, legal support, and advocacy, the project aims to dismantle the barriers that prevent women from owning land and using it as a resource for economic advancement.
Conclusion
The launch of Phase Two of the Land Lab in the West Gonja Municipal marks a significant step forward in addressing the challenges faced by women in land acquisition. With the involvement of key stakeholders such as traditional authorities, legal agencies, and conservation bodies, the project is well-positioned to create meaningful change. As the Land Lab continues to evolve, it is expected to provide actionable solutions that can be scaled up to benefit women across Ghana, contributing to their economic transformation and the overall goals of the WEACT project.
Source: Adam Abdul-Fatawu Wunizoya/Communications and Members Services Coordinator