A series of regional, national dialogue platforms are expected to be rolled out in the coming months
The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), in collaboration with STAR Ghana Foundation, has begun a series of stakeholder engagements with market women in Kumasi and women in agriculture in the Northern Region.
These engagements aim to explore the challenges faced by informal sector workers—particularly market traders and peasant farmers—in accessing credit and social insurance services.
The initiative, part of the second phase of the Action for Voice and Inclusive Development (AVID II) project, is being carried out under the theme “Bridging the Gap: Financial Accessibility and Social Protection for Informal Sector Traders and Farmers in Ghana.”
These regional dialogues are intended to inform national policy discussions aimed at creating inclusive, practical solutions for some of the country’s most economically active yet underserved populations.
To support the project’s objectives, CSJ is conducting a comprehensive baseline assessment to gather firsthand accounts from informal workers—primarily market traders and peasant farmers—on the financial and social protection barriers they face.
The findings will help inform the design of a Policy Action Platform (PAP), which will bring together key stakeholders, including government agencies, financial institutions, and grassroots representatives, to co-create and commit to sustainable, context-appropriate solutions.
“These engagements are vital in amplifying the voices of women in the informal economy, many of whom have historically been excluded from financial and social protection systems,” said a CSJ spokesperson.
“Our goal is to ensure that inclusive policies are not just discussed in boardrooms but are shaped by the lived realities of those who need them most.”
A series of regional and national dialogue platforms are expected to be rolled out in the coming months.
These platforms aim to catalyze reforms that can improve access to microcredit, expand social insurance coverage, and reduce economic vulnerabilities in Ghana’s informal sector.
Although Ghana’s informal sector constitutes a significant portion of the nation’s workforce, approximately 89% of the employed population, women are disproportionately represented.
Available data indicate that while women comprise 92% of employed individuals in the informal sector, they often face challenges in accessing financial services.
A recent study revealed that 65.3% of the labor force operates within the informal sector, yet there is a notable lack of access to quality financial services and products.
In terms of social protection, enrollment of informal sector workers in Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) remains low, accounting for just over one-third of total enrollees annually.
These figures highlight the urgent need for initiatives aimed at enhancing financial inclusion and expanding social insurance coverage for Ghana’s informal sector—particularly for women.
The CSJ-led AVID II project is being implemented with support from partners such as STAR Ghana Foundation, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and local community stakeholders, whose shared commitment continues to advance social justice and economic equity in Ghana.
By working directly with those most affected, the project seeks to close the inclusion gap and strengthen the resilience of Ghana’s informal workforce—one engagement at a time.
