Received: 05 th Jan-2014 Revised: 07 th Jan-2014 Accepted: 10 th Jan-2014 Research article ASSESSING THE SOCIO-CULTURAL FACTORS THAT AFFECT WOMEN’S CONTRIBUTION TO FOOD SECURITY IN THE KASENA NANKANA MUNICIPALITY, UPPER-EAST REGION, GHANA Maurice M. Braimah 1 , Isaac Gibberson Dukuh 2 , Daniel Oppong-Sekyere 3 & Prince Hasimu Momori 4 1 Lecturer, School of Engineering, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Bolgatanga Polytechnic, Ghana 2 Lecturer, School of Engineering, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Bolgatanga Polytechnic, Ghana 3 Lecturer, School of Applied Science and Arts, Department of Ecological Agriculture, Bolgatanga Polytechnic, Ghana 4 Lecturer, School of Engineering, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Wa Polytechnic, Ghana Corresponding Author E-Mail:braimahm@hotmail.com ABSTRACT: Women play a very vital role in household food security in most developing countries including Ghana. However, they are constrained by a variety of socio-cultural and economic as well as institutional barriers. This study therefore seeks to assess women’s contribution to household food security in the Kasena-Nankana Municipality. Descriptive survey design was adopted, employing both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. Observations, focus group discussions, interviews, key informant interviews and questionnaires were used as primary data, and other relevant data, as secondary sources, were used to gather relevant information for analysis and discussions. Purposive sampling was used to select 160 participants from 2,049 women in six communities for the study. The findings of the study revealed57.3% reacted positively towards contribution to household food security while 84.4% were into agricultural production. Almost all (83.8%) of the respondents indicated that they undertake crop production. A little more than eighty percent (81.25%) mentioned that they cultivate groundnut. More than three-quarters (75.63%) indicated that they cultivate rice. The study further revealed that 76.25% and 65.63% of the respondents were into beans and maize production respectively. Eighty-two(82%) were engaged in animal production. Respondents (43%) indicated they engaged in food processing, 37% engaged in farm labor and 20% in trading of farm produce. The main methods of processing of food crops, from the study, were threshing, winnowing, milling and drying. Constraints facing women were found to include their non- involvement in traditional rituals, non-inclusion in the decision- making process. The women however were successful in their quest to achieve food security. About 93% were aware of government policies in place to enhance women participation in food security.Therefore, in order to improve the household food security and up-grade women’s roles in this regard, the prevailing problems in the Kasena Nankana Municipality need concerted efforts from all concerned bodies. Keywords: Household, food security, Women, socio-cultural, Qualitative, Quantitative, Interview, Questionnaire INTRODUCTION The debate on the role of women in societies and their participation in economic activity has sparked a lot of controversy for a considerable time. Different groups of people-women groups, government, development partners, and civil society groups have forwarded many arguments to support their stand on access by all people at all times to adequate food of good quality for active and healthier life. Even though different women from different communities play different roles at home and outside the home, yet, the contribution of women to household food security in the Kassena-Nankana East District needed investigation. All over the world women’s contributions to household food security is enormous. In Asia, women account for more than two thirds of food production and some 45 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean [8]. Women farmers in Sub-Sahara Africa produce more than three-quarters of the region’s basic food, manage some two-thirds of marketing of farm produce and at least one half the activities required for storing food and raising animals [9, 15]. International Journal of Plant, Animal and Environmental Sciences Page: 307 Available online at www.ijpaes.com