Sustaining Life After Conflict: Women Self-Empowerment Strategies in Northern Ghana

Abstract

This study focused on the effects of conflict on the petty trade. and social organization of women as most of them depend on retail trade for their livelihood. The paper explores the coping strategies of women after conflict and the relocation of business owners and wholesalers to other areas.  To achieve the aim of this study, a qualitative method and a case study approach were used to ensure a comprehensive analysis of data. The study revealed a number of initiatives employed by the women to survive the vagaries of conflict during the aftermath. The institutions of traditional leadership are found to be the center of cultural identity which plays significant part in the social and economic advancement of the people. It is found that the women devised ways to survive and to cope with the situation by initiating mechanisms that sustained them and their families, particularly in caring for their children. The research may strengthen other women in similar situation not to wait for handouts from outside but to explore within themselves for empowerment to argument any support, in case, it is offered. This research may offer the authorities and development agencies empirical information to support women’s efforts in making their socioeconomic contribution for the betterment of society. Research on coping strategy of women after conflict is not new but the researchers opined that these are not enough to demonstrate their resilience. The originality of the study is based on the fact that the women did not explore the known strategies that are normally adopted but resorted to unique ways of supporting themselves to alleviate their suffering. One of those unique initiatives to cope including skill training offered by some of the women to colleagues voluntarily just to empower them as they struggle with their traumatic past.