Abstract:
The concept of microfinance has become an important poverty alleviating tool in
many parts of the world. This study was therefore conducted to assess the role of
microfinance in poverty alleviation among women in Ablekumah South Sub – metro
in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. Four research questions were formulated to
guide the study. Purposive sampling technique was used to obtain a sample size of
fifteen women for the study. Data was collected through interviewing participants and
analysis was done using descriptive statistics based on the themes in which they
emerged guided by the research questions. The study revealed the following among
others. Although the microfinance credits were given out to help the poor women to
enable them work themselves out of poverty, the beneficiaries were confronted with
some challenges. Their trading activities helped them to save with some formal banks.
Based on the findings, certain recommendations were made. Microfinance agencies
should engage professionally competent staff in performing the operational task such
as education and monitoring beneficiaries. There should be a mechanism to control
the issue at guarantors. The beneficiaries should be given at least three months graced
period to begin repayments of their credits. Future studies should be conducted in
other Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in Ghana as well as
investigating the effective management of microfinance credit schemes.
Description:
A THESIS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL STUDIES, FACULTY OF
SOCIAL SCIENCE, SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE
STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, WINNEBA IN PARTIAL
FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER
OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE IN (M.PHIL) SOCIAL STUDIES.
