Networks and performance of women's business operations in Ghana

The criteria used to measure business performance often concentrate on quantitative indicators, such as growth in sales, employees and profits. However, the majority of Agona and Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa Districts women entrepreneurs generally have low levels of education, poor business records, several kinship ties, high production and reproductive roles, with small-sized enterprises found mostly in the informal sector. This work, therefore, examines the relationships between background characteristics of women entrepreneurs in the two districts and their enterprises, the types and sizes of networks and performance of the business operations from the start-up, to on-going business operations and support from the various promotional institutions and associations. The determinants of the performance of the selected women's business operations were investigated using a set of qualitative indicators in economic, social and life-enhancing domains. The results of the Chi-square and regression analyses will provide a useful method of assessing informal sector business performance for interested professional.

Autorentext

Studied Home Economics at the University of Ghana, Legon; Post-Graduate Certificate in Education, MPhil. (Vocational and Technical Education on Entrepreneurship), PhD. (Development Studies) at Cape Coast University. A retired Senior Lecturer now lecturing part-time at Cape Coast and Winneba Universities as well as West End University College.