By Abebe Dawuni
Zagbang Nov. 21, GNA -The Australian high commission in Ghana has handed over a GHS 147,720.00 Bee keeping equipment to six women groups of Zagbang in Yendi municipality of northern region.
The 180 six village Savings and loans Association (VSLA) groups from Zagbang, Adibo, Zang, Gbingbaliga, Kpachiya and Zugu received beekeeping equipment with 120 beehives with metal stands,32 solar extractors, 24 harvesting gear, 24 smokers and hand gloves.
Madam Candice Hooper Second Secretary of High Commission who handed over the equipment to the women groups indicated that last year the Australian High Commission received an application for funding from Children Believe to create sustainable livelihoods for the women through training in beekeeping
She said they were pleased to support the project because of the high Commission’s commitment to promoting gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.
She said gender equality was a core Australian value that influenced most of the work they did at the high commission.
According to her, through the project, six village savings and loans association group leaders received training in beekeeping equipment, planted 1800 trees for biodiversity conservation funded by Australian High Commission and Implemented by Assemblies of God Care (AG Care) Ghana Yendi office.
She reminded them that women were known to be the main actors in the Ghana’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMES) sector which also contributes about 70 percent of Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
She said through the project women were supported to establish honey production business which would not only support the families, but will contribute towards strengthening Ghana’s economic development.
Skills training is recognized by the African union as an important means of enhancing livelihood and providing a route of poverty which the direct aid progamme were about making targeted contribution to improve outcomes for progamme vulnerable
She said they had supported eight West Africa this year.
Madam Caddice Hooper commended the team Children Believe and AG care Ghana for putting together the project and for their work in promoting women’s economics empowerment in Ghana.
Madam Frieda Bila Team Leader Northern Field Office, Tamale said due to limited access to farmland entrenched gender roles, inadequate employment opportunities and lack of exposure to modern agricultural methods, among others have posed significant barriers to women’s empowerment in both economics and decision- making processes.
Madam Freida said unfortunately the ongoing impacts of climate change has further increased women’s vulnerable in rural communities across Northern Ghana.
According to the Team Leader their collaborating with government agencies to provide technical support and executive on beekeeping and afforestation has been instrumental.
She said the equipment to various groups would serve as a catalyst for providing alternative livelihood and increasing income to the women many of whom are breadwinners of their households.
Madam Esnam Kavi De Souza the Country Director of Children Believe expressed their appreciation to
Australian Aid for their support.
She said they hope the beneficiary communities will not disappoint them when they come there next year.
GNA