Examining The Prospects, Successes And Implementation Challenges Of Women’s Economic Empowerment Programmes And Policies In The Chereponi District Of Ghana.

ABSTRACT Underpinned by the Synthesis Theory of Implementation and Malhora et al. Multidimensional Empowerment Framework, this study sought to examine the prospects, successes and implementation challenges of women’s economic empowerment programmes and policies (LEAP and MASLOC) in the Chereponi District of Ghana. A qualitative research approach adopting a case study design was employed to carry out this research work. Fifty respondents were sampled from both MASLOC and LEAP programmes in the Chereponi District for the study. The study found that, both MASLOC and LEAP programmes have bright prospects in relation to poverty alleviation and empowerment of women economically and in several other ways. It was also discovered that, the magnitude of achievements or successes of the LEAP programme were only sufficient to prepare beneficiaries to access better economically empowering programmes like the MASLOC programme. That notwithstanding, it was revealed from the study that, both MASLOC and LEAP programmes in the Chereponi District were helping beneficiaries in setting up small to micro businesses, improving consumption patterns as well as improving the involvement of women in family decision making. Additionally, the study revealed that bottlenecks such as political interference, lack of capacity building among other things were affecting the smooth implementation of these two programmes in the District. However, the study found that, misapplication of loans was a challenge peculiar to the MASLOC programme, whilst loss of E-zwich Cards was a bottleneck peculiar to the LEAP programmes in the District. Finally, the study found periodic capacity building and refresher training for both beneficiaries and management officials as some of the critical success factors of both programmes in the Chereponi District.