Mainstreaming gender in the country’s budget has a potential of significantly growing the economy, studies have shown.Women play a critical role in the Ghanaian economy, contributing significantly to sectors such as agriculture, trade, and entrepreneurship. Statistics from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) indicate that women constitute about 49% of the country’s total labour force, yet they face persistent barriers in accessing resources, training, and financial services. As a result, there is a growing call for gender mainstreaming in the national budget to ensure women are adequately supported, unlocking their full potential to drive economic growth.
According to data from the World Bank, women dominate Ghana’s agricultural sector, making up 50% of the total agricultural workforce. They are key players in the production of food crops and small-scale farming, which contributes approximately 20% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, despite their contribution, women in agriculture often lack access to capital, land ownership rights, and technology to boost productivity. This disparity limits their ability to maximize output, further reinforcing the need for gender-responsive budgeting to target these challenges and promote equitable growth in the sector.
In addition to agriculture, women have a strong presence in the informal trade sector, which accounts for about 80% of all jobs in Ghana, according to GSS data. Women-run businesses—particularly in markets, retail, and small-scale manufacturing—are vital to the economy’s informal sector. Unfortunately, women entrepreneurs face limited access to credit and capital, hampering their ability to scale up businesses. A gender-focused approach to budgeting would ensure that more gender sensitive policies and initiatives, financial resources are allocated to women in business, promoting inclusive growth.
Experts argue that supporting women’s economic participation goes beyond empowering individual women; it translates into broader economic benefits for Ghana as a whole. The McKinsey Global Institute in 2019 reported that advancing gender equality in Africa’s workforce could add $316 billion to the continent’s GDP by 2025. In Ghana, increasing female labour force participation and ensuring equal opportunities for women in entrepreneurship and leadership positions could significantly boost national GDP.
Gender mainstreaming in the national budget is essential to address these inequalities and harness women’s full potential. It involves evaluating budgetary allocations with a gender lens to ensure that government spending addresses the unique challenges women face in various sectors. This means providing targeted funding for female entrepreneurs, expanding access to education and training programs for women, and investing in social safety nets like childcare and maternal healthcare.
Moreover, gender-responsive budgeting aligns with Ghana’s international commitments, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which prioritize gender equality as a critical driver of sustainable development. A budget that actively supports women will help the country achieve goals such as ending poverty, improving health outcomes, and promoting economic growth.
The need to gender mainstream Ghana’s national budget is increasingly urgent, especially as the country navigates economic recovery post-COVID-19. Supporting women through targeted policies and financial investments will not only ensure their economic empowerment but also contribute to the overall growth of the Ghanaian economy.
With the first ever woman vice president in Ghana, many expect the current government to champion gender mainstreaming not only with the budget but other policies.
Failure to act on this would mean that the full potential of nearly half of Ghana’s workforce remains untapped, stalling progress toward inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
