An evaluation of human capital theory and female entrepreneurship in sub-Sahara Africa: Some evidence from Ghana

Purpose: The study aims to evaluate critically how the elements of human capital theory such as level of education, area of education, training and prior work experience influence female entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan Africa, with focus on Ghana. Though it is very critical that the elements of human capital are known and assessed, there is currently very little known about the elements of human capital as pertains to female entrepreneurship in Ghana. This situation has called for a study such as this one. Design/methodology/approach: A phenomenological paradigm was adopted for the study. This includes in-depth interview, documentation and observation. Unlike narrative research that reports on lived experiences of an individual, phenomenological study focuses on describing the lived experiences of several individuals. It is mainly a descriptive account of shared experiences of those individuals located near universal lived experience(s). Findings: Reporting data from a 2014 qualitative in-depth interview of 25 women entrepreneurs in Accra who work in service delivery, manufacturing and trading, it was revealed that level of education, business training and knowledge gained during the course of their work were crucial factors for their success. As a consequence, this study calls for effective policies that will encourage education and training of women entrepreneurs, especially those with low levels of education, on a sustainable basis. Research limitations/implications: The study focused on some of the elements of human capital and women’s entrepreneurship in Ghana. However, there exist other issues that are critical to the development of female entrepreneurship in the sub-Saharan region that can be explored to provide more insight on this subject or different context. Practical implications: The human capital dimensions which were evaluated for this study included level of education, area of education, business training and experience gained from prior employment. The outcome is that these elements are crucial for the success of women entrepreneurs in Ghana, but there is the need for wider research in other global regions on women entrepreneurs and human capital factors and whether similar variations prevail. Originality/value: Evidence from the literature reveals that little is known until now to evaluate the elements of the human capital of female entrepreneurs in Ghana, and this study seeks to bridge this gap. Results are examined comparing what is pertaining in other international communities, thus avoiding a merely national viewpoint.