Attitude and behaviour of women traders towards (in)formal insurance schemes in the context of COVID-19 impacts in Ghana

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic impacted negatively on informal sector workers, especially those with micro businesses, the majority of whom are women with little or no formal social protection. Drawing on data obtained from 377 women traders from major markets in Ghana, and using a mixed-methods paradigm, we sought to ascertain the types of social protection schemes women traders subscribe to in the post-COVID era to cope with shocks and to ensure better safety nets. The findings show different forms and scales of social protection measures, with women leveraging both formal and informal systems as means to support their businesses in the event of shocks. The study offers policymakers and relevant stakeholders’ insight to provide more inclusive social security and insurance policies to enhance the resilience of informal sector workers, particularly women traders, against future shocks.