Empowering Women through Microfinance in Some Selected Microfinance Institution and Small Scale Business Women in Takoradi Business Area

Women play vital role in the economic development of their families and communities but certain problems such as unemployment, poverty, low household income and societal discrimination mainly in the developing countries have hindered their effective performance of that role. It is revealed that small scale business women could be effective strategists if they are empowered to be economically active to give quality life to their households since they form majority of small scale business in the country. The research revealed that microfinance institutions mainly target women because most of them engage in small scale business and empowering them will not only increase economic activities in the country but also sharpen them to support their families and their communities and make effective decisions as well. Conclusions drawn was in respect of the fact that though microfinance has empowered women, the impact have not been felt because of the challenges in the areas of cash collateral, high interest rate, mode of debt payment and virtually same products being offered to customers. Potential and existing customers are discouraged to access loan. Again, default being one of the challenges of the microfinance institutions are on the higher side and strategies should be put in place to ensure that customers pay for their debts in due time in order to keep the microfinance institutions in operations all the time. Keywords: microfinance, women empowerment in small scale busines

Actor-network analysis of community-based organisations in health pandemics: evidence from the COVID-19 response in Freetown, Sierra Leone

Freetown, Sierra Leone, is confronted with health risks that are compounded by rapid unplanned urbanisation and weak capacities of local government institutions. Addressing them implies a shared responsibility between government and non-state actors. In low-income areas, the role of community-based organisations (CBOs) in combating health disasters is well-recognised. Yet, empirical evidence on how they have utilised their networks and coordinated community-level strategies in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic is scant. This paper, based on a qualitative study in two informal settlements in Freetown, employs actor-network theory to understand how CBOs problematise COVID-19 as a health risk, interact with other entities, and the subsequent tensions that arise. The findings show that community vulnerabilities and past experiences of health disasters informed CBOs\u27 perception of COVID-19 as a communal emergency. In response, they coordinated sensitisation and mobilisation programmes by relying on a network of actors to support COVID-19 risk reduction strategies. Nonetheless, misunderstandings among them caused friction