This research is a result of collaboration between a number of individuals and agencies.
First acknowledgement is given to the team of Ghanaian researchers who worked so well in collecting data, often under very difficult circumstances. They are: Mary Ackummey, Paul Ackom, Vida Eshun and Christina Arthur of Winneba and Salifu Mohamma of the Tamale Institute of Cross Cultural Studies.
Within the Department For International Development in Ghana support was given by David Harding and Howard Tyers, STEP project managers; and good humour and tolerance from fellow office workers. Jeff Barker and Ian Ellis. Encouragement and support was also provided by the senior education adviser in London, Terry Allsop.
My good friend, Jones Kyazze of UNESCO in Paris and his colleague in Ghana, John Kusi-Achampong; Seema Agarwal, sometime education adviser of UNICEF in Ghana, and colleagues and friends at the University of Sussex provided helpful advice and criticism.
Thanks, too, to my twin Michael Stephens who drew the maps and to Julia - who typed up the final manuscript.
Financial support was provided by the Department for International Development and UNESCO.
Acknowledgement is also given to the women teachers and girls, particularly those out of school, who willingly told us of their lives and of their own efforts to improve them.
A number of seminars were held during the production of this report and thanks is given to students and staff at the Institute of Education, University of Sussex and African Studies Centre, University of Cambridge who provided helpful feedback.
Finally, a word of thanks to my wife Claire who managed to look after me and our children whilst this paper was being written.
