Microfinance and the Socio-economic Wellbeing of Women Entrepreneurs in Ghana

Authors

  • Smile Dzisi School of Business and Management Studies, Koforidua Polytechnic, Ghana,West Africa
  • Francis Obeng JMB Consult, P.O.Box SU 211, Suhum,Koforidua, Ghana, West Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18533/ijbsr.v3i11.313

Keywords:

Micro financing, SMEs, Women Entrepreneurs, Socio-economic wellbeing, poverty reduction, Ghana.

Abstract

Abstract

Microfinance has been touted as a means of improving the lives of the poor and the provision of funds for business enterprises. This study examines the impact of microfinance on the socio-economic lives of women entrepreneurs in Ghana. Using Ghana as the study area, this  paper provides valuable insights into micro financing in a developing economy context.

A multi-method approach was used in data collection and analysis. Eight hundred and forty (840) women beneficiaries of microfinance loans were surveyed; and interviews conducted with 35 of them. The overall results suggest that the women’s enterprises have expanded while their socio-economic status have improved tremendously after taking the loans. It is however recommended that microfinance institutions provide education in finance management for their clients, since only few of them undertakes such an exercise.


Author Biographies

  • Smile Dzisi, School of Business and Management Studies, Koforidua Polytechnic, Ghana,West Africa
    Senior Lecturer, School of Business and Management Studies
  • Francis Obeng, JMB Consult, P.O.Box SU 211, Suhum,Koforidua, Ghana, West Africa
    Research Fellow, Research department

References

Adams, S. (2010). “The Impact of Microfinance on Maize Farmers in Nkoranza (Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana)”,Journal of Management Research, , 2(2), ISSN 1941-899X 2010www.macrothink.org/jmr

Afrane, S. (2002). “Impact Assessment of Microfinance Interventions in Ghana and South Africa”: A Synthesis of Major Impacts and Lessons, Journal of Microfinance, 4(1).

Andrews, M. (2006). Microcredit and Agricultures: How to Make it Work. Canada :Mennonite Economic Development Associate.

Anirudh K., Uphoff N. and Esman J.M. (1997). Reasons for Hope .Boston: Kumarian Press:10-16.

Armah, G. (2001). “The Inability of Women to Refund Loans. Whose Fault?” In: Karikari, H O. (2011). Poverty Reduction Efforts in Ghana: A Study of the Social Investment Fund Microfinance Programme in the Mfantseman Municipality. Masters’ Thesis (unpublished) University of Cape Coast.

Armendariz, B. (2005). The Economics of Microfinance. Cambridge, Mass: The MIT Press. Retrieved 16/12/2013 [Online]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcredit).

Aryeetey, E., Baah-Nuakoh, T., Duggleby, T., Hettige, H. and Steel, W. F. (1994). Supply and Demand for Finance of Small Enterprises in Ghana. World Bank Discussion Paper, African Technical Department Series, 251.

Asiama, J. P. and Osei, V. (2007). Microfinance in Ghana: An Overview. Accra, Ghana: Research Department, Bank of Ghana .

Bank of Ghana, (2007). A Note on Microfinance in Ghana. Working Paper, WP/BOG-2007/01.Bank of Ghana Research Department: 3

Bateman, M (2010a). "The Illusion of Poverty Reduction", Red Pepper magazine. Retrieved on 3/12/2012 [online]:(http://www.redpepper.org.uk/the-illusion-of-poverty-reduction).

Bateman, M. (2010b). Why Doesn't Microfinance Work?: The Destructive Rise of Local Neoliberalism, New York :Zed Books.

Boabeng, K.Y. (2009). “The Informal Sector and the Microfinance Industry”.2nd ed., New York: Macmillan. In: Owusu-Bempah G., Bennet E., Amoako D., Frempong R. K.(2013). The Importance of the Informal Sector of Ghana to Savings and Loans Companies, Research Journal of Finance and Accounting, 4(2). Retrieved on 23/08/2013 [online]:

www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/RJFA/article/download/4437/4505‎

Buckley, G. (1997). Microfinance in Africa. Is it Either the Problem or the Solution? World Development, 25(7): 1081-1091.

CGAP (2011). Measuring Changes in Client Lives through Microfinance: Contributions of Different Approaches. Article by Mayada El-Zoghbi and Meritxell Martinez. Retrieved May, 2013[online]:www.CGAP-Brief-Measuring-Changes-in-Client-Lives-through-Contributions-of-Different-Approaches-May-2011.pdf.

Chaia, A., Dalal, A., Goland, T., Gonzalez, M., Morduch, J. and Schiff, R. (2009). “Half the World is Unbanked”, Financial Access Initiative Framing Note, Financial Access Initiative, New York. In: Proaño L. F., Gash M. and Kuklewicz A. (2011). In Durability of savings Group Programmes: ADecade of Experience in Ecuador. Enterprise Development and Microfinance, 22( 2).

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), (2005). Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women: Ghana Combined Third, Fourth and Fifth Periodic Reports of States Parties, CEDAW/C/GHA/4-5, CEDAW, New York : 59-71.

Creedy, J. (2008). Research Without Tears: From the First Ideas to Published Output. UK:Edward Elgar Pub, Cheltenham.

Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rd Ed.). Los Angeles: Sage Publications, Inc.,

Datar S.M., Epstein, M.J., and Yuthas, K. (2008). “Social Innovations in Microfinance, Clients Must Come First”, Stanford Social Innovation Review. (14), Winter 2008. Retrieved on 23-04-2013[online]: http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/in_microfinance_clients_must_come_first.

De Soto, H.(1989). The Other Path: The Invisible Revolution in the Third World. New York: Harper and Row Publishers:162.

Egyir, I. S. (2010). “Rural Women and Microfinance in Ghana: Challenges and Prospects,” Contributed Paper presented at the Joint 3rd African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE) and 48th Agricultural Economists Association of South Africa (AEASA) Conference, Cape Town, South Africa, September 19-23, 2010.

Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) (2012). 2010 Population and Housing Census: Summary Report of Final Results, Accra, Ghana.

Ghartey, G. (2007). “Sustaining Microfinance in Ghana: Implications of both Prudential and Non-prudential Regulations for the Sub-sector,” Paper presented at the annual Microfinance Conference, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast.

Gupta, S. and Aubuchon, C. (2008). “The Microfinance Revolution: An Overview”, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Review, 90 (1), 9- 30.

Hartmann K. (2012). "Erlösenkannunsnur der Tod" ("Only Death Can Save Us"), Frankfurter Rundschau.

Hussmanns, R. and Mehran, F. (1998). Statistical Definition of the Informal Sector: International Standards and National Practices, Genève: International Labour Office, Bureau of Statistics.

International Year of Microcredit (IYMC) (2005). Governance Issues in Microfinance. PRISMS USAID, U.S.

Karnani, A. (2007). “Microfinance Misses its Mark”, Stanford Social Innovation Review Summer, 2007.

KIVA (2013). About Microfinance. Retrieved 12/03/2013 [online]:http://www.kiva.org/about/microfinance.

Leach, F. and Shashikhala, S. (2002). "Microfinance and Women’s Empowerment: A Lesson from India", Development in Practice, 12: 575–588. Retrieved 16/03/2013 [online]:

(http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/4029403?uid=3737864&uid=2&uid=4&sid=21100728509251issue=5.

Littlefield, E., Morduch, J. and Hashemi, S. (2003). ‘‘Is Microfinance an Effective Strategy to Reach the Millenium Development Goals?’’ Focus Note, 24. In: Proceedings of the National Conference On Undergraduate Research (NCUR) 2012, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah. March 29-31, 2012. Retrieved 12/02/2013 [online]:http://www.mixmarket.org/mfi/kafo-jiginew/report.

Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MoFEP), (2008). Microfinance Development in Ghana. Retrieved on 2/05/2013 [online]: (http://www.mofep.gov.gh/documents/Microfinance_Newsletter_2008_1st_EDITION.pdf.

National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and United Nations System (UNS) in Ghana (2012). “Achieving the MDGS with Equity in Ghana: Unmasking the Issues behind the Averages”. A Technical Paper. Final Report. Retrieved 12/06/2013[online]: www.mofep.gov.gh/CG2012/userfiles/file/MDGs_Equity_Report_0.pdf‎

Opare, N. D. (2001). “Commercial Banks Must Help Micro-Financing”. Accra, Ghana:Daily Graphic, October 29: 33.

Pitt, M. M. and Khandker, S.R. (1998). "The Impact of Group-Based Credit Programmes on Poor Households in Bangladesh: Does the Gender of Participants Matter?" Journal of Political Economy, 106 (5): 958–996.

Richard, V. (2007). Services for the Poor: What Work, Why and Where? Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka. Asian Development Bank.

Sachs, J. (2009). “Is Microfinance the Solution to Poverty?” Retrieved on 17/03/ 2013 [online]:http://www.kiva.org

Shicks, J. (2011). Over-Indebtedness of Micro-borrowers in Ghana. An Empirical Study from a Customer Protection Perspective. Center for Financial Inclusion Publication, 15, November 2011.Retrieved on 1/04/ 2013[online]:http://centerforfinancialinclusionblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/111108_cfi_over-indebtedness-in-ghana_jessica-schicks_en_final.pdf.

Steel, W. F. and Andah, D. O. (2003). “Rural and Micro Finance Regulation in Ghana: Implications for Development and Performance of the Industry: Africa Region”. Working Paper Series No. 49, June 2003: 1.

Stuart, R. (2000). The Poor and Their Money. New Delhi: Oxford University Press: 4. Retrieved on 15/04/2013 [online]: isbn =0-19-565790-X.

Downloads

Published

2013-12-09

Issue

Section

Article

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >>