Dr. Joseph Wemakor Calls for Stronger Investments in Women’s Economic Empowerment in Ghana

Human rights advocate and Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, has called for sustained investments, inclusive policies, and targeted interventions to accelerate women’s economic empowerment in Ghana, describing it as a fundamental driver of human development, social justice, and sustainable economic growth.

Dr. Wemakor made the call during an interview on Africa In Perspective, a programme aired on Radio Now 95.3 FM in Lagos, Nigeria, where he discussed the theme: “Breaking Barriers: Women’s Economic Empowerment in Ghana.”

According to him, empowering women economically goes beyond creating employment opportunities and must involve ensuring equal access to resources, opportunities, and decision-making processes that shape economic outcomes.

“Women’s economic empowerment means ensuring that women have equal opportunities, resources, and the freedom to participate meaningfully in Ghana’s economy. It means having access to education, finance, land, markets, technology, leadership opportunities, and the ability to make decisions that affect one’s economic future,” Dr. Wemakor stated.

Progress Made, But Significant Gaps Remain

While acknowledging Ghana’s progress in advancing gender equality and women’s participation in economic activities over the past decade, Dr. Wemakor noted that many structural barriers continue to undermine the full realization of women’s economic rights.

He observed that increasing numbers of women are pursuing higher education, establishing businesses, and assuming leadership positions across various sectors of the economy. He also credited government initiatives, private sector programmes, and digital financial innovations such as mobile money for improving financial inclusion among women.

However, he cautioned that these gains have not translated into equal economic opportunities for all women.

“Women continue to dominate the informal sector, where earnings are often unstable and social protection is limited. Access to finance remains unequal, and many women still face cultural expectations that restrict their economic choices,” he said.

Rural Women Face Greater Challenges

Dr. Wemakor expressed concern about the disproportionate challenges faced by women in rural communities, where access to economic opportunities remains significantly limited.

According to him, inadequate access to financial institutions, markets, business development services, digital technology, internet connectivity, and transportation infrastructure continues to constrain the economic advancement of rural women.

He noted that while women in urban centres such as Accra and Kumasi may have relatively better access to resources and services, they too continue to face challenges related to financing and societal expectations.

“The gap between rural and urban opportunities remains significant and requires deliberate interventions to ensure that no woman is left behind,” he stressed.

Access to Finance Remains a Major Barrier

Addressing the issue of financial inclusion, Dr. Wemakor pointed out that despite the expansion of microfinance schemes and digital lending platforms, many women entrepreneurs continue to struggle with accessing affordable and sustainable financing.

He explained that high interest rates, inadequate loan amounts, collateral requirements, and documentation challenges often prevent women-owned businesses from expanding and creating jobs.

“Many women-led enterprises operate informally and may lack the documentation and collateral required by financial institutions. This makes it difficult for them to access the capital needed to grow their businesses,” he explained.

Building Skills for Economic Independence

Beyond access to finance, Dr. Wemakor highlighted the importance of capacity building in empowering women entrepreneurs.

He identified financial literacy, business management, bookkeeping, digital marketing, customer service, negotiation, and leadership development as critical skills increasingly sought by women seeking to expand their enterprises and compete effectively in today’s economy.

He further emphasized the transformative role of technology in advancing women’s economic participation.

According to him, digital tools such as mobile money, e-commerce platforms, and emerging technologies including artificial intelligence are opening new pathways for entrepreneurship, market access, and productivity.

However, he stressed that digital inclusion must remain a priority.

“Technology can be a powerful equalizer, but only if women have the skills, access, and opportunities to benefit from it. Digital inclusion efforts must ensure that women are not left behind,” he said.

Recognizing Women’s Contributions Across Sectors

Dr. Wemakor also highlighted the remarkable contributions of Ghanaian women across sectors often overlooked in national development conversations.

He pointed to women’s growing impact in agribusiness, food processing, manufacturing, fashion, renewable energy, healthcare, education, and technology, noting that women are increasingly driving innovation and creating employment opportunities.

“Women are not merely participating in these sectors; they are transforming them through creativity, innovation, and resilience,” he remarked.

Turning Conversations into Action

As part of efforts to support women’s economic advancement, Dr. Wemakor announced his participation as an honoured guest speaker at the upcoming Women Entrepreneurship Empowerment Programme (WEEP) workshop scheduled for June 20, 2026, in Accra.

The initiative, organized by Eminence Lead International with support from the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), and other stakeholders, seeks to equip women entrepreneurs with practical business skills, mentorship, financial literacy, and leadership development opportunities.

Dr. Wemakor described such initiatives as essential platforms for translating advocacy into tangible outcomes.

“Breaking barriers requires moving beyond discussion to concrete action that empowers women to succeed. Initiatives like WEEP demonstrate that meaningful progress is possible when stakeholders commit to creating opportunities that enable women entrepreneurs to thrive,” he said.

A Human Rights and Development Imperative

Concluding the interview, Dr. Wemakor called on governments, development partners, financial institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector to intensify efforts aimed at removing barriers that hinder women’s full participation in economic life.

He stressed that women’s economic empowerment should be viewed not only as a development priority but also as a human rights imperative.

“When women rise economically, communities rise with them. Women’s empowerment should not be an annual conversation; it should be a daily commitment translated into policies, investments, mentorship, and opportunities that help women succeed economically,” he stated.

He added: “When we invest in women’s enterprises, we are investing in stronger families, resilient communities, and a more prosperous Africa.”

As Ghana pursues inclusive and sustainable development, experts continue to emphasize that empowering women economically remains one of the most effective strategies for reducing poverty, promoting equality, and advancing human rights for all.