By Comfort Sena Fetrie-Akagbor
Bunglung (N/R), Aug. 28, GNA – Women groups from Bunglung in the Savelugu Municipality of the Northern Region have shared their success stories, after acquiring entrepreneurship training skills from the Women Economic Advancement for Collective Transformation (WEACT) project.
The beneficiaries shared their experiences during a working visit by the Board Members of Oxfam International, to their project activities at Bunglung and Gurizegu in the region.
They were accompanied by Mr Mohammed-Anwar Sadat Adam, the Acting Country Director of Oxfam in Ghana, with some leading officers of the projects.
Oxfam in Ghana, under the WEACT project, has partnered Tungyeiya Women’s Association at Bunglung and Diare in the Savelugu Municipality to work with women and their families to enhance economic empowerment, well-being, and inclusive growth of women.
WEACT is a five-year project, funded by Global Affairs Canada, through Oxfam Quebec, and seeks to address the systemic barriers to women’s economic empowerment.
It is expected to benefit approximately 5,400 women and girls directly and 3,510 men and boys in the Shea and Cocoa value chains across six regions.
Oxfam plays a coordinating role working with seven local implementing partners including Tungteiya Women’s Association.
Some of the beneficiaries expressed how the project had reshaped and reoriented them to contribute positively to their communities.
Madam Rawnatu Autassan, a farmer and shea butter producer, said the skills training she acquired had provided her with a platform to connect with commercial customers.
She said it built her confidence to enable her save for her son’s university education, as well as develop business and financial literacy skills such as book-keeping records to enhance her business accountability.
Madam Zeinab Mohammed, a soap producer, also shared her experience saying, “The skills training has enhanced my micro-enterprises in areas like selling, farming crops, and soap-making business”.
She said due to the WEACT project, women were now part of decision making in their communities and were able to perform social duties like their male counterparts.
Madam Caroline Stockmann, an Oxfam International Board Member and Treasurer, said the organisation would continue to support women in the rural areas by providing them with model equipment and resources to enhance their businesses.
Madam Assalama Sidi, the Deputy Director of Oxfam in Africa, in-charge of West and Central Africa, urged the women’s group to improve upon their market links for business and also grow their enterprises through co-operatives, markets and value chains.
Madam Fati Alhassan, the Gender Officer, Oxfam, Ghana, said the project was to promote the shea and cocoa value chains across nine districts in the Upper East, Upper West, Northern, Savannah, Western North and Western Regions.
She said the project had improved the ability of women to overcome legal and social barriers individually and collectively to their participation in agriculture and economic activities.
GNA