African Trade Policy and Economics (Economics/Political Science/Law | 09 June 2007
Access Denied: Barriers to Legal Access in Urban Slums of Ghana,
A, m, o, a, h, A, m, p, a, d, u, i, n, i, ,, K, o, f, i, A, g, y, e, i, w, o
Abstract
Urban slums in Ghana often face significant barriers to accessing legal justice, particularly for vulnerable populations such as women and children. The study employed semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 30 residents from different urban slum areas in Ghana. Interviews were conducted between January and June . Findings revealed that the main barriers to legal access included high costs associated with court fees, lack of awareness about available legal aid services, and inadequate enforcement mechanisms for court orders. The study highlights significant disparities in legal access within urban slums, particularly affecting vulnerable groups. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve access to justice. Recommendations include increasing financial support for legal aid services, enhancing awareness campaigns about available resources, and strengthening enforcement mechanisms for court orders.