Improving women's energy access, rights and equitable sustainable development: a Ghanaian perspective

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to investigate the challenges in improving women's energy access, rights and equitable sustainable development from a Ghanaian perspective.Design/methodology/approachThe research utilizes a mixed method. A qualitative in-depth exploratory design was chosen to understand how gender is mainstreamed within Ghana's energy sector. This included semi-structured interviews with key managers, experience policy experts and focus groups. The semi-structured interviews were analyzed using thematic content analysis (TCA).FindingsThe study reveals that the National Energy Policy of 2010, as the main energy policy regulating the energy sector in Ghana, does make provision for gender equality, safety especially women, in line with Ghana's sustainable development goals. The energy policy aims to empower women and create gender parity in the sector. Nevertheless, the study also found major challenges to gender mainstreaming in the energy sector, including poor analysis in formulating energy policies, inadequate financial resources, and poor monitoring and evaluation.Originality/valueThe paper exposes gender equity challenges associated with the energy sector in Ghana. It also offers a new policy angle which connects gender mainstreaming to sustainable development. The research describes how women are included in developing energy policies and in addressing gender challenges in the energy sector.

From smoke to sustainability: the role of socioeconomic factors in the continuous use of clean cooking technologies in Uganda

“…This is because the use of CCTs can reduce indoor air pollution by as much as 90%, leading to better respiratory health, controlled blood pressure in pregnant women and lower incidences of diseases such as pneumonia and lung cancer (United Nations Development Program (UNDP), 2021). It is also widely established that CCTs diminish the effects of greenhouse gases (GHGs) on the environment to guarantee the health of future generations (Katutsi et al, 2023;Rosenthal et al, 2018;Owusu-Manu et al, 2021;Yeganeh, 2019). Furthermore, CCTs promote gender parity by lessening the burden of household responsibilities on women and girls, who are often in charge of collecting firewood and cooking.…”