Her Ladyship Chief Justice: The Rise of Female Leaders in the Judiciary in Africa

In recent years, women have been selected as leaders of African judiciaries. This article identifies where and when women have become chief justices and presidents of constitutional courts from 1990 to 2014. We profile women from three civil-law and three common-law countries and find that the women selected meet or exceed the requirements for holding the highest position in the judiciary. We then explore why some African countries, but not others, have had female judicial leaders. We initially find that the selection method may be less important than the type of legal system, the commitment of gatekeepers, the end of major armed conflict, and regional diffusion in explaining why some countries have seen women rise to leadership positions in the judiciary

Evaluation of Factors Influencing the Sustainability and Outreach of Microfinance Institutions in Northern Ghana

Purpose: The study examined the factors that influenced the sustainability and outreach of microfinance institutions in northern Ghana from the view point of managers and operation staff of microfinance institutions. Methodology: Questionnaires were administered to a sample of 181 managers and operation staff of 18 microfinance institutions in northern Ghana. Purposive and convenience sampling techniques were used. Data was analysed using Spearman multiple correlations. Findings: The study found: a positive  statistically significant relationship between capital structure and financial sustainability in northern Ghana,  failed to uncover any  statistically significant relationship between capital structure and outreach, failed to find statistically significant relationship between financial sustainability and outreach levels in northern Ghana, find a positive statistically significant relationship between capital structure, financial sustainability and outreach in northern Ghana. Originality: The study adds to the literature on microfinance sustainability and outreach and in particular the Ghanaian context. Limitation: The study is limited to only microfinance institutions operating in northern Ghana and the perceptions of finance professionals. The study suggests consideration of the entire regions of Ghana and the usage of actual loan data of microfinance institutions. Keywords: Microfinance institutions, Ghana, poverty reduction, capital structure, sustainability, outreach. DOI: 10.7176/RJFA DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/10-16-16 Publication date: August 31st 2019

Assessing the effects of World Vision Ghana education project interventions on beneficiaries in the Saboba district of Ghana

Enrolment, Performance and Retention are the key elements in providing quality education and building the skills and technical expertise of its human resource. The roll out of quality education is however thwarted by some challenges and therefore there is the need for concerted efforts on the part of Private Sector, Public Sector and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to collaborate and contribute to achieving this excellence. The study sought to examine the effects of World Vision Intervention education component on the project beneficiaries at the basic school level in the Saboba district of northern Ghana. The investigation sought to give answers to various inquiries like: perception of stakeholders on the effectiveness of the project, effect of the project on academic performance, school enrolment as well as the challenges associated with the implementation of the intervention Program. The approach to the study was eclectic. Results revealed that more than two-thirds of the stakeholders identified Water and Sanitation, and Education as the priority areas of World Vision. It also attributed the appreciation of enrolment to sponsorship packages enjoyed by beneficiaries and the aggressive mount of enrolment campaign drives.  However, increase in enrolment did not translate into performance, as percentage of pupils graduating from the basic school level to higher levels of academic was not impressive. The situation worsened as the performance of the girl child continues to lag compared to their boys counterparts. The study suggests that development actors should incorporate pupil enrolment campaign Programs into their mainstreamed local Programs, with much emphasis on quality instructional delivery as this will enable pupil to climb higher educational ladder. Also, consultation strategy should be incorporated into donors’ agencies Programs to encourage stakeholders to fully participate at each stage (design to implementation) of the Program since that will allow optimal achievement of the intended goals

The Gendered Face Of HIV/AIDS: The Move Towards Policy Implementation in Ghana

HIV/AIDS is more prevalent in Africa than in any other part of the world In Ghana, the first case of HIV/AIDS was report in 1986. Since then there have been efforts at various levels to combat its spread. This paper examines the institutional and structural frameworks for dealing with HIV/AIDS in Ghana. Using concept analysis, it examines the frameworks for their gender and development implications. It finds that the social group most adversely affected by HIV/AIDS in Ghana is women.  This is attributed to social, economic, cultural, and institutional obstacles. While efforts at fighting the disease by the Government of Ghana through the Ghana Aids Commission, donor partners and civil society are noteworthy, it is also clear that the frameworks applied do not adequately address the gendered nature of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Consequently, it is argued that any meaningful effort toward combating the epidemic will involve the empowerment of women through changes in government policies and the socio-cultural systems and practices that limit women’s options and choices. The role of women in developing national processes will be felt where women’s needs are taken into consideration and addressed as one of the key to their contribution to national development

Achieving Food Security Through Agricultural Water Security of Smallholder Farmers in Ghana

Water security is a crucial element in the realm of agricultural development, significantly impacting the welfare of farmers and stakeholders throughout the agricultural supply chain. However, the connection between agricultural water security and food security has been relatively understudied. This research seeks to fill this gap by examining the influence of agricultural water security on the food security of smallholder farm households in Ghana. Using principal component analysis, the study classified farmers into two groups: those considered agriculturally water-secure (48.56%) and those agriculturally water-insecure (51.44%), with a threshold set at the 40th percentile. Employing an endogenous treatmenteffect ordered probit model, the research delved into the impact of water security on household food security among smallholder farmers. The analysis revealed several critical factors influencing agricultural water security, including gender, land ownership, non-farm income, access to extension services, credit availability, membership in farmer-based organizations (FBOs), adoption of irrigation, and information sources like NGOs and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA). These factors were identified as positively contributing to water security. Conversely, factors such as age, total livestock count, distance to water sources from the farm, and information obtained from fellow farmers hurt agricultural security. Concerning the effect of agricultural water security on food security, the study found that farmers achieving water security witnessed a significant 23% improvement in their food security status. This translated to reductions in mild food insecurity (by 0.8%), moderate food insecurity (by 6.1%), and severe food insecurity (by 17.8%). These findings underscore the importance of government and development partners' support for enhancing agricultural water security among smallholder farmers to improve overall food securit

Beyond Transition: Democracy and the Development of Civil Society in Ghana

This research examines the impact of formal democracy on the construction of an effective civil society in Ghana. The theoretical and policy role of civil society has received a great deal of attention in the literature. Especially for democratization theorists, the focus has been on the democracy enhancing qualities of civil society—qualities often credited with playing key roles in democratic transitions in Africa. However, the question of what happens to civil society after a democratic transition has not received much attention in the literature. Using a historical institutionalist approach, the study examines how democratic institutions and institutional arrangements affect the development of civil society. After Ghana’s return to formal democracy in 1992, democratic openings, though not immediately transformative, created an expansion in civil liberties and political rights necessary for the emergence of civil society. Paradoxically, state institutions remained weak and it was such weakness—not the strength, as some of the literature suggests, that allowed civil society to develop. Within the legislative and bureaucratic arenas, persistent institutional weakness became an opportunity for civil society to mobilize resources from foreign donors to strengthen the capacity of state institutions. Through programs aimed at enhancing the capacity of state institutions, foreign donors played a critical role in framing the relationship between civil society and the state. A major finding from this research is the symbiotic relationship between civil society and the state. As the case of Ghana demonstrates, where the state provides opportunities for civil society to develop, an effective civil society in turn contributes to building the democratic state. Findings from this research provide theoretical implications for the literature on civil society and democracy by highlighting the role of democratic institutions in strengthening civil society