The Significance of Activity-Type in Reducing Poverty among Women in the Informal Sector. Insights from the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana

MActivity-Type and Poverty Reduction among Women

Authors

  • Charles Peprah Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi
  • Veronica Peprah Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.
  • Kafui Afi Ocloo Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4314/a24mat37

Keywords:

Poverty reduction; Informal sector activities; women; Kumasi Metropolis; Ghana.

Abstract

Despite the significance of informal sector activities (ISA) in reducing poverty among women, little is known regarding activity-type vis-à-vis the impact of sector towards poverty reduction among female informal sector workers in urban areas in low- and middle-income countries. The paper addresses this gap using the individual poverty perspective of poverty theories. The philosophical underpinning of the study was pragmatism. It applied the cross-sectional design using multiple data collection instruments to elicit data from 356 women engaged in three dominant ISA types in six selected communities within Kumasi Metropolis. Reliability, Mann-Whitney U and T- Tests (95% confidence level) tests were used to assess the instruments and analyse quantitative data. Qualitative data was analysed thematically. The study found that 96% of the women attributed their improved poverty status to involvement in ISA. Beyond income deprivation, the most salient manifestations of poverty were poor health, poor housing infrastructure, pervasive insecurity and inadequate access to basic services such as education. It concludes that there was no statistically significant (p=.237) association between level of poverty and ISA type; thereby substantiating the relevance of ISAs as a mechanism for poverty reduction among women. The findings have implications for the realization of United Nations poverty-related SDG targets. The study recommends provision of services and strong collaboration between the major institutions and stakeholders within the informal sector to foster business formation and strategy development to enhance the entire variety ISA of the women.

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Author Biographies

  • Charles Peprah, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi

    Charles Peprah is an Associate Professor in the Department of Planning at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, where he currently serves as Head of Department and Vice Dean of the Faculty of Built Environment. He holds a PhD in International Development from the University of Kitakyushu in Japan. His work sits broadly within development planning, policy analysis, and the spatial dimensions of development. Over the years, he has been deeply involved in postgraduate teaching and supervision, guiding doctoral and master’s students who have gone on to work in academia, government, and international organisations. Alongside his teaching and research, Prof. Peprah has received research grants and institutional awards in recognition of his contributions to scholarships, training, and service to the university and wider community.

  • Veronica Peprah, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.

    A Lecturer in Social Studies at the Department of Teacher Education, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana with a strong research background in gender, livelihoods, and rural transformation. My scholarly and professional trajectory is grounded in advancing gender-responsive and community-based approaches to sustainable development. My research explores the nexus between gender dynamics, spatial inequalities, and livelihood resilience in rural and peri-urban contexts. My work has illuminated how women navigate systemic barriers such as limited access to productive resources, market constraints, and socio-cultural norms that affect their economic participation. A notable publication on informal sector livelihoods in Kumasi underscores my commitment to generating evidence that informs inclusive policy and development practice. As a development-oriented scholar, I integrate research, teaching, and community engagement to promote transformative learning and social impact. I am particularly interested in academic research with local knowledge systems, ensuring that development interventions are both contextually grounded and gender-sensitive. My experience working with teacher trainees and rural communities positions me as a valuable collaborator in interdisciplinary research focused on education, gender, equity, and rural development. My ongoing research agenda seeks to strengthen the link between gender empowerment, education, and sustainable livelihoods; areas central to Ghana’s development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through my applied research and mentorship, I continue to champion inclusive policies and capacity building for marginalized groups, particularly rural women. My ultimate goal is to translate research into practice by influencing policy frameworks that enhance social equity and community resilience across Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa.

  • Kafui Afi Ocloo, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.

    Kafui Ocloo (PhD) has several years of experience in the field of Development Planning and has several years of experience in the management of research and development projects. She has also researched into the institutional structures that govern water and sanitation and to role of institutional economics in shaping the water and sanitation sector in Ghana. With her background in the field of communication, she has had the unusual advantage of being able to bring her training in communication to bear on development planning.  This has seen her involved in programs that have required the application of communication for development. Dr. Ocloo’s work experiences have span the conduct of empirical studies, needs assessments, preparation of development plans, facilitation, strategy development and communication for development. She is currently a senior lecturer at the Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Her areas of interest include water, sanitation, institutional development, gender education, local resource mobilization and community relations.

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Published

2026-09-01

Issue

 Online first articles 

Section

Art & Humanities

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

JUST Vol. 43 Number 1 (2025) Copyright and Licensing statement

How to Cite

The Significance of Activity-Type in Reducing Poverty among Women in the Informal Sector. Insights from the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana: MActivity-Type and Poverty Reduction among Women. (2026). Journal of Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.4314/a24mat37