In the North-west of Sierra Leone, customary land access hinges on “Bora” – a system tied to respect and social obligations, not formal ownership. While “Bora” plays a crucial role in rural women’s livelihoods, their land rights remain precarious. This study examines how the emergence of “Respect Money” – a cash payment replacing traditional obligations – challenges and reinforces gendered inequalities in land access. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative methods, the research investigates the shifting dynamics, how “Respect Money” alters traditional power structures and customary gender roles related to land. Livelihood impacts on the consequences of commodified land access for women’s agricultural practices, income, and food security. Social implications on the potential erosion of communal values and increased risk of land dispossession for women under the “Respect Money” system. Empowerment or exploitation? whether “Respect Money” presents an opportunity for women’s agency or contributes to their further marginalization within land governance. The case study design employ both qualitative and quantitative data analysis that reveals how the monetization of customary land access, while offering some flexibility, can exacerbate existing gender inequalities. Key informant interviews from women’s group, civil society organizations, land advocates, traditional leaders couple with Focus group discussion with communities and Biographic survey of various women to understand lived experiences from those that are constraint to land access due to ‘’Bora” compare to those from landowning families that benefit more from land access. The result of the study sheds light on the complex interplay between cash, tradition, and gender in shaping land rights.The need for inclusive land governance frameworks that recognize and protect women’s customary rights alongside formal structures. The study highlight the need for alternative strategies for securing women’s livelihoods and ensuring equitable access to land in resource-constrained settings. This study contributes to ongoing debates about gender, land rights, and the evolving nature of customary practices in the face of economic and social transformations. It recommends that policymakers and development practitioners to consider the nuances of “Bora” beyond the lens of mere monetization and advocate for solutions that truly empower rural women in land ownership and management.