Professor Charlotte Wrigley-Asante

Head of Department

Contact info cwrigley-asante@ug.edu.gh

About

Prof. Charlotte Wrigley-Asante is a Professor of Gender and Development Geography. She has several years of research experience focusing on the intersections of gender with issues of poverty, urbanization, empowerment and climate change in Ghana's urban and rural spaces. She has been involved in several projects focusing mainly on the gendered aspects of the projects, including the ‘Crime and Poverty Nexus in Urban Ghana’ project as part of Safe and Inclusive Cities (SAIC) Initiative by the International Development Research Council (IDRC) Canada; Pan-African College of Urban Sustainability Project, BOSCH Foundation and the Women and Science chair, a Paris Dauphine-PSL University project. Currently, she’s focusing on transforming institutions to advance women leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields and the socio-economic and health vulnerabilities of women informal traders in Ghana, both projects supported by IDRC, Canada.  Charlotte is also a team member of the Queen Elizabeth Scholars (QES) program in collaboration with Concordia University, Montreal, Canada.  She has skills and expertise in gender analysis and gender transformative strategies and approaches. 

She teaches courses such as:

  • GEOG 323: Regional Geography of Africa (one region outside West Africa)
  • GEOG 324: Regional Geography of West Africa (special reference to Ghana)
  • GEOG 328: Geography of Gender and Development in Africa
  • GEOG 453: Geography of the Developing World
  • GEOD 603: Qualitative Research Methods
  • GEOD 634: Gender and Sustainable Development
  • GEOG 701: Advanced Qualitative Research Methods
  • GEOG 708: Gender, Space and Place: Discourses in Feminist Geography 
  • CCSD 613: Climate Change and Gender

Education

  • PhD Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana
  • MPhil Human Geography, University of Oslo, Norway

Research Interest

  • Gender, Science and Technology issues: career progression of women in Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) fields in different geographical areas in Africa.
  • Urbanization, gendered poverty and empowerment issues: gendered livelihoods, economic and health vulnerabilities of urban market traders in the context of COVID-19; women and informal cross-border trading as well as issues surrounding gender, poverty and safety and security issues.
  • Gender and Climate Change: gender, climate change and health vulnerabilities in cities.

Publications

  1. Ofoli, A. L., Ablo, A. D., & Wrigley-Asante, C. (2024). Urban sprawl and the changing socioecological systems in peri-urban Ghana. Local Environment, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2024.2378068.
  2. Arthur, I. K., Nikoi, E., Crentsil, A. O., Owusu, A. B., Wrigley-Asante, C. N. & Baffoe, V. (2023). Urban Resilience in Africa: A Study of Land-Use Stresses on the Urban Environment in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana. African Journal of Housing and Sustainable Development, 4(2), pp. 3-16.
  3. Wrigley-Asante, C. & Zaami, M. (2023). Migration and Cross-border trading In: Hall, S. M & Johns, J (eds) Contemporary Economic Geographies: Bristol University Press. UK.
  4. Wrigley-Asante, C., Ackah, C. G. & Frimpong, L. K. (2023). Gender differences in academic performance of students studying Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects at the University of Ghana, SN Social  Science,   3 (12). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-023-00608-8
  5. Mudu, P., Adair-Rohani, H., deSouza, P.,Gumy, S., de Sa, H. T., Lewis, J., Mwaura, A., Shairsingh, K., Vert, K., Williams, K., Smit, W., Owusu, G., Wrigley-Asante, C., & Agyei-Mensah, S. (2023). Tracking urban health policies: A Conceptual framework with special focus on air pollution in African Cities. World Health Organization, Geneva.
  6. Wrigley-Asante, C. & Ampomah, A.  (2022). Gender and diversity training workshop for coordinators of gender centre/units in technical universities and institutions. A report submitted to German Cooperation/GIZ, Accra-Ghana.
  7. Damte, E., Manteaw, B. O. & Wrigley-Asante, C. (2022). Urbanization, climate change and health vulnerabilities in slum communities in Ghana, The Journal of Climate Change and Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joclim.2022.100189
  8. Wrigley-Asante, C., Ackah, C. G. & Frimpong, L. K. (2022). Career aspirations and influencing factors among male and female students studying Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects in Ghana, Ghana Journal of Geography. 14(1),85-103 https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/gjg.v14i1.5
  9. Wrigley-Asante, C., Owusu, G., Amu, J. B. & Commodore, T. S. (2021). Crime and safety in urban public spaces: Experiences of Ghanaian women traders in the Makola market in Accra, Ghana, The Geographical Journal https://doi.org/10.1111/geoj.12423.
  10. Salifu, A. R. Z., Lawson, E. L. & Wrigley-Asante, C. (2021). Responses to water scarcity considering social determinants: Groundnut farmers in the Lawra and Nandom districts, Ghana. In:  Ribbe, L., Haarstrick. A., Babel, M., Dehnavi, S., & Biesalski, H.K. (eds), Towards water secure societies: coping with water scarcity and quality challenges.      (pp. 109-123). Springer Cham, Switzerland. 78-3-030-50653-7 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50653-7 pp. 109-123.
  11. Bagson, E., Owusu, A., Owusu, G., Wrigley-Asante, C. & Oteng-Ababio, M. (2021). Profile of Victims of neighbourhood crimes in Ghanaian cities, Ghana Journal of Geography. 13 (2), 1-30. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/gjg.v13i2.1
  12. Akugre, F. A., Owusu, K., Wrigley-Asante, C. & Lawson, E. L. (2021). How do land tenure arrangements influence adaptive responses of farmers? A study of crop farmers from semi-arid Ghana, Geojournal 13 (2), 1-30. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/gjg.v13i2.1
  13. Wrigley-Asante, C., Frimpong, L. K., Amu, J., Owusu, G., & Oteng-Ababio, M. (2021). Determinants of perceived insecurity and its consequences in a low-income neighborhood in Accra, Ghana, Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and urban Sustainability, 12 (4): 476-495, doi: 10.1080/17549175.2019.1635189
  14. Owusu, G. & Wrigley-Asante, C. (2020). Urban Inequality and Poverty in the Global South, Equilibri, pp.79-90 Doi:10.1406/98101
  15. Wrigley-Asante, C., & Ackah, C. G. (2021). Exploring the nexus between choice of courses, academic performance and career aspirations of Ghanaian males and females studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects: A Policy Forum Contribution. Women and Science Chair, a Paris Dauphine-PSL University and its Foundation Chair.
  16. Wrigley-Asante, C. & Boampong, J. (2019). ‘‘Inspire us’’ project for women and girls in Ghana: Final Report. Worldreaders Ghana, Accra.
  17. Wrigley-Asante, C. & E. Ardayfio-Schandorf. (2019). The emergence and institutionalization of feminist geography in Ghana, Gender, Place and Culture: A Journal of Feminist Geography,    26(7-9), 1064-1072. https://doi.org/10.1080/0966369X.2019.1609429
  18. Owusu, A. Y., Oteng-Ababio, M., Owusu, G., Wrigley-Asante, C. & Agyekum, M.W. (2019). Opening up or closing off; Urbanisation, violent crime and ‘poverty penalty’ in Ghana’s four largest cities. In J. E Salahub, M. Gottsbacher, J. de Boer & M. D. Zaaroura (Eds), Reducing Urban Violence in the Global South (pp.40-66). Routledge, UK, NY.
  19. Wrigley-Asante, C. & Dake, F. (2019). Climate Change and Gender in Ghana: An Overview. . Climate Change in Ghana: The Human Dimension (pp.56-76). Afram Publications Ghana Limited: Accra
  20. Wrigley-Asante, C. & Agyemang, E. (2019). Trading on-the-road and off-the-road: Experiences of Ghanaian informal cross border traders, Ghana Social Science Journal, 16 (1): 23-53.
  21. Frimpong, L. K., Oteng-Ababio, M., Owusu, G., & Wrigley-Asante, C. (2019). Public Confidence in the Police: Test of Instrumental and expressive models in a developing country city, Police Practice and Research, 20 (2): 139-155.  doi:10.1080/15614263. 2018.1525380
  22. Frimpong, L. K., Oteng-Ababio,M., Owusu, G. & Wrigley-Asante, C. (20218). Collective efficacy and fear of crime in urban neighbourhoods in Ghana, Safer Communities, 17 (3),167-181, https://doi.org/10.1108/ SC-06-2017-0024
  23. Wrigley-Asante, C. (2018). Women in Ties: Informal social networks among women in cross-border trading in Accra, Ghana, Gender Issues, 35, 202–219,  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12147-017-9205-x
  24. Wrigley-Asante, C., Agyei-Mensah, S., & Obeng, A. F. (2017). It’s not all about wealth and beauty: Changing perceptions of fatness among makola market women in Accra, Ghana, Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography, 38 (3), 414-428. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjtg.12200
  25. Wrigley-Asante, C., Owusu, K., Egyir, I. S., & Owiyo, M.T. (2017). Gender dimensions of climate change adaptation practices: The experiences of smallholder crop farmers in the transition zone of Ghana, African Geographical Review, 38(2):1-14, doi: 10.1080/19376812.2017.1340168
  26. Wrigley-Asante, C., & Mensah, P. (2017). Men and women in trades: Changing trends of home-based enterprises in Ga-Mashie, International Development Planning Review, 39 (4), 423-441. https://doi.org/10.3828/idpr.2017.11.
  27. Wrigley-Asante, C. (2016). Gendered perception of crime and safety: Insights from different socio-economic urban neighbourhoods in Ghana, Ghana Journal of Geography, 8 (1), 103-123.
  28. Owusu, G., Owusu, A. Y., Oteng-Ababio, M., Wrigley-Asante, C., & Agyepong, I. (2016). An assessment of household’s perception of private security companies and crime in urban Ghana, Crime Science, 5 (5), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40163-016-0053-x
  29. Wrigley-Asante, C., Owusu, G., Oteng-Ababio, M., & Owusu, A. Y. (2016). Owusu, G., Owusu, A.Y., Oteng-Ababio, M., Wrigley-Asante, C., & Agyapong, I. Ghana Journal of Geography, 8 (1), 32-50
  30. Oteng-Ababio, M., Owusu, G., Wrigley-Asante, C., & Owusu, A. Y. (2016). Longitudinal analysis and patterns of crime in Ghana (1980-2010): A new perspective, African Geographical Review, 35 (3), 193-211. https://doi.org/10.1080/19376812.2016.1208768
  31. Owusu, G., Oteng-Ababio, M., Owusu, A. Y., & Wrigley-Asante, C. (2016). Can poor neighbourhoods be correlated with crime? Evidence from urban Ghana, Ghana Journal of Geography, 8 (1), 11-31.
  32. Oteng-Ababio, M., Owusu, G., Owusu. A., & Wrigley-Asante, C. (2016). Geographies of crime and collective efficacy in urban Ghana, Territory, Politics, Governance, 5 (4), 459-477. https://doi.org/10.1080/21622671.2016.1159602
  33. Wrigley-Asante, C., Amu, T, J., & Owusu, G. (2016). Women’s safety in urban spaces: Case study of a low income-urban neighbourhood in Ghana. In R. Amoeda & C. Pinheiro (Eds.), 2016 International Conference on Sustainable Housing Planning, Management and Usability (pp. 153-160). Porto: Greenlines Institute for Sustainable Development.
  34. Obeng, A.F., Wrigley-Asante, C., & Teye, J. (2015). Working conditions in Ghana’s export processing zone and women’s empowerment, Work Organisation, Labour and Globalisation, 9 (2), 64-78.
  35. Wrigley-Asante, C., & Agandin, J. B. (2015). From sunrise to sunset: Male outmigration and its effect on left-behind women in the Builsa District of Ghana, Gender Issues, 32 (3), 184-200.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12147-015-9139-0
  36. Owusu, G., Wrigley-Asante, C., Oteng-Ababio, M., & Owusu, A, Y. (2015). Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) and built environmental manifestations in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana, Crime Prevention and Community Safety, 17 (4), 249-269. https://doi.org/10.1057/cpcs.2015.8
  37. Agyei-Mensah, S., Owusu, G., & Wrigley-Asante,C. (2015). Urban health in Africa: Looking beyond the MDGs, International Development Planning Review, 37 (1), 53-60. DOI: 10.3828/idpr.2015.6
  38. Ardayfio-Schandorf, E., & Wrigley-Asante, C. (2014). Gender and development in Ghana: Feminist geographies perspective. Selected readings in geography: essays in commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the University of Ghana (pp. 134-147). Woeli Publishing Services, Accra.
  39. Agyei-Mensah, S., & Wrigley-Asante, C. (2014). Gender, politics and development in Accra, Ghana. Unravelling marginalization, voicing change: Alternative visions and paths of development (pp. 117-133). Ashegate Publishing Limited, Surrey.
  40. Wrigley-Asante, C. (2014). Accra turns lives around: Female migrant traders and their empowerment experiences in Accra, Ghana, Multidisciplinary Journal of Gender Studies, 3(2), 341-367. https://doi.org/10.4471/generos.2014.37
  41. Egyir, I. S., Owusu, K., Jatoe, J.B.D., & Wrigley-Asante, C. (2014). Climate change and agricultural adaptation measures in the transition zone of mid-Ghana: Final research report. United States Agency for International Development (USAID) / Multi-Features and Capacity Enhancing Services (MFCS)
  42. Wrigley-Asante, C. (2013). Unravelling the health-related challenges of women in the informal economy: Accounts of women in cross border trading in Accra, GeoJournal, 78 (3), 525-537. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-012-9449-7
  43. Wrigley-Asante, C. (2013). Survival or escaping poverty: Perspectives on poverty and well-being among Ghanaian women in cross-border trading, Journal of Gender Studies, 22 (3), 320-334. https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2012.703519
  44. Oteng-Ababio, M., & Wrigley-Asante, C. (2013). Globalization and male sex trade in Ghana: Modernity or immorality, Contemporary Journal of African Studies: Institute of African Studies, 1 (1), 79-104.
  45. Wrigley-Asante, C. (2012). Out of the dark but not out of the cage: Women’s empowerment and gender relations in the Dangme West district of Ghana, Gender, Place and Culture: Journal of Feminist Geography, 19 (3), 344-363. https://doi.org/10.1080/0966369X.2011.572435
  46. Wrigley-Asante, C., & Tengey. W. (2012). Social and gender analysis: Final report on compact II programme, Accra. Millennium Development Authority.
  47. Wrigley-Asante, C. (2011). Women becoming bosses: Changing gender roles and decision making in Dangme West District of Ghana, Ghana Journal of Geography, 3, 60-87.
  48. Wrigley-Asante, C. (2011). Gender checklist for reviewing the district medium term development plans under the GSGDA 2010-2013: Final report. National Development Planning Commission / Government of Ghana.
  49. Wrigley-Asante, C. (2010). Rethinking gender: socio-economic change and men in some selected communities in the Greater Accra region, Ghana Social Science Journal, 7 (1), 50-71.
  50. Wrigley-Asante, C. (2009). Women, poverty and economy: Ghana’s third progress report on the implementation of the African and Beijing platform of action and review report on Beijing+15. Accra: Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MOWAC) / Government of Ghana.
  51. Tengey, W., & Wrigley-Asante, C. (2009). AMSCO gender mainstreaming pilot project: Final report. Accra: African Management Services Company (AMSCO), Ghana Office. 
  52. Wrigley-Asante, C. (2008). Men are poor but women are poorer: Gendered poverty and survival strategies in the Dangme West District of Ghana, Norwegian Journal of Geography, 62 (3), 161-170. https://doi.org/10.1080/00291950802335541
  53. Opare, J., & Wrigley-Asante, C. (2008). An assessment of gender and agricultural development strategy: Final evaluation report. Accra: Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA)/ Government of Ghana.
  54. Wrigley-Asante, C. (2004). Poverty reduction interventions and women’s empowerment in the Dangme West District of Ghana. In S. Agyei-Mensah, K. Awusabo-Asare, J. S. Nabila, & P. W. K. Yankson (Eds.), Poverty, Health and Gender (pp. 14-26). Accra. Department of Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana.
  55. Ardayfio-Schandorf, E., & Wrigley-Asante, C. (2001). Women in natural resources management in Ghana: Success Stories Series. United Nations University, Institute for Natural Resources in Africa /   Woeli Publishing Services, Accra. ISBN 9964-978-79-0