Adopting a gender perspective in the spatial planning stages contributes to preventing bottlenecks in the implementation process, Mrs. Gifty Nyarko Karikari, the head of the Physical Planning Department at the Sunyani West Municipal Assembly, has observed.
Planner Nyarko stated that females are mostly the higher percentage group within the informal sector in Ghana with their activities competing for space with others
In an interview at Odumase, near Sunyani, on spatial planning processes and implementation for holistic national growth, she stated that women in Ghana face significant challenges in accessing land for business ventures, hence failure to integrate gender perspective in implementation of spatial plans could result in un-desired consequences.
Planner Nyarko explained that customary inheritance laws often favour male heirs, limiting women’s ability to inherit or own land, saying that socio-cultural norms, reinforced by patriarchal traditions even worsen the situation.
Card index
According to her, women are known to be the main actors in Ghana’s micro, small and medium enterprises, a sector that is known to be the anchor on which Ghana’s economy hangs. She indicated that the 2019 master card index of women entrepreneurs, Ghana apart from Uganda on the African continent, has the most women entrepreneurs.
Planner Nyarko said the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) should consciously integrate the informal activities into mainstream spatial planning when preparing local plans, and much attention should be given to that effect.
She said less attention had over the years been paid to planning for space requirements for these informal activities whilst these women need to make ends meet.
Planner Nyarko reiterated that it is important to make access to land more easily for women and giving them space to excel in their endeavors.
Commitment
“In this regard, governmental and non-governmental bodies must show commitment to supporting the implementation of gender mainstreaming in planning so that women and men may benefit equitably from the development process,” she said.
Planner Nyarko further explained that gender mainstreaming is a development strategy that tackles the concern and perspectives of both genders integrated within the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all development spheres as a goal to achieve gender equity.
She highlighted the purpose of the gender approach in spatial planning is to warrant the relevant roles, equal responsibilities, access and opportunities in the development processes both at the central and local level for equal benefits from strategic development interventions.
Planner Nyarko stressed that to build a stronger economy, achieve internationally agreed goals for development and sustainability, and improved quality of life for both women, men, families and communities, it is essential to empower women to fully participate in economic life across all sectors.
The key to this process, she indicated, is to consistently raise awareness and capacity building among the professional community including planners, architects and decision makers regarding the importance of gender mainstreaming.
By: Richard Kofi Boahen
Modern Ghana Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Correspondent
