COLANDEF executives in a group photograph with members of the Queen Mothers Platform
COLANDEF, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) focused on demystifying land sector vulnerability, has organised a national forum to discuss the “Status of Women’s Land, Property and Natural Resources Rights” in Accra.
The forum, held on March 19, 2025, aimed to convene stakeholders such as traditional leaders, policy actors, professional bodies, farmer cooperatives, private sector actors, civil society organisations (CSOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and development partners to discuss the status of women’s land, property, and natural resources rights.
The Founder and Executive Director of COLANDEF, Nana Ama Yirrah, explained that the fight for the land rights of women should not be left on the shoulders of only women. She explained that women’s land rights are foundational to the socio-economic empowerment of women, their individual homes, and the country as a whole.
“It is not just about the woman. It is about her household in which you are working. It is about her community that you are implementing the project in; it is about the country as a whole,” she pointed out.
Madam Yirrah intimated that between 55.4% to 57% of Ghana’s land is committed to agriculture; agriculture employs 32% of the labour force out of which 39% are females. She quoted data from the Ghana Statistical Service, saying that over 70% of those employed in the agricultural sector are smallholder farmers who produce 80% of the country’s food, stating that a “majority” are women.
She stressed that these women’s participation are crucial in climate change discussions, particularly in areas like climate mitigation, adaptation, and cocoa afforestation, to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of these initiatives. She further explained that, since agricultural sustainability and food security for women rely heavily on their rights to land and natural resources, their input and perspectives are essential to inform these conversations. However, to effectively participate in these conversations, women should be educated on their rights to land and natural resources and include men in these conversations.
The queen mother of Osu Doku, Nana Amponsah Dokua III, in a solidarity message, explained that it is quite sad to see that even though women play a crucial role in Ghana’s agricultural sector, they are denied the right to land ownership more often than not. She stated that traditional norms also put women at a disadvantage, stressing that conscious effort should be made to eliminate these biases.
“There needs to be a transformation in these morals, and cultivating an environment where women can exercise their rights fully,” she added.
By Vera Owusu Sarpong