This was contained in research findings, which was made known at a sensitisation programme held at the Tampola Community in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality. The programme was to help address the challenges affecting women in the acquisition of land for farming and other activities and attracted stakeholders including traditional and religious leaders, women, the youth, assembly members and opinion leaders.

The research was conducted by Tampola Young Generation Farmers’ Cooperative, a farmer group in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality of the Upper East Region and funded by the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC).

It was on the theme: ”Advocacy Action: Equal Access to Land to Improve Livelihoods of Women in the Kassena Area”.According to the research findings, majority of chiefs and landlords  were not aware of treaties on equal access to land, hence were not able to implement laws, which promote women equal access to productive resources.

The findings also cited traditional beliefs and customs as some of the hindrances women face in accessing lands at the community levels for agriculture and other purposes.The survey identified chiefs, landlords, land administration units, associations and civil society organisations as some of the relevant stakeholders who could play various roles towards ensuring equal access to productive lands.

It recommended the need for the sensitisation of traditional rulers and community elders to equip them with the knowledge on the laws governing women access to lands. The research also recommended the need for the Municipal Assembly to collaborate with the traditional authorities to enact and enforce by-laws to punish offenders who take advantage of the vulnerability of women and exploit them of their lands and other resources.

Mr Vincent Subbey, the Monitor of BUSAC Fund, underscored the need for duty bearers such as chiefs, land administrators, assemblymen, landlords and family heads to collaborate to deal with the issue.

Mr David Amozebga, the Financial Secretary of the Tampola Young Generation Farmers’ Cooperative, explained that the research clearly identified gender inequality suffered by women in acquiring agriculture lands and other property as an imminent problem in the Kassena-Nankana Municipality.

The Financial Secretary said widows and children were the most affected, especially after the demise of the husband, adding that it was against this background that his outfit sought funding from the BUSAC Fund to help address the issue.