By Aukaisha Abdullai
Bunkpurugu (NE/R), March 24, GNA – A total of 75 women and youth entrepreneurs in nine communities in three districts in the North East Region have received livelihood support items such as quantities of groundnut, rice, soya beans, water pumping machines and cash grants to economically empower them.
The communities were Yunyoo-Nauk, Jimbale, Gbingbani in the Yunyoo-Nasuan District, Wonjuga, Wenchiki, and Gbalo in the Chereponi District, and Bunkpurugu, Nakpanduri and Mambabga in the Bunkpurugu-Nankpanduri District.
The items included 40 bags of groundnuts given to 20 beneficiaries (all females), who are into groundnut processing, 24 bags of rice given to 12 beneficiaries (all females), who are into rice milling, five bags of soybeans given to five beneficiaries (all females), who are into dawadawa processing, and GHc2,000.00 cash each to three beneficiaries (all females), who are into pito (local drink) brewing.
The rest were GHc2,000.00 cash each to 25 beneficiaries (four males and 21 females), who are into petty trading and two pumping machines for irrigation with assorted varieties of seeds to 10 beneficiaries (three males and seven females), who are into dry season farming.
The support to the beneficiaries was to increase crop production, provide opportunities for business development, empower beneficiaries economically and build resilient and vibrant communities in peacebuilding as well as prevent conflicts and violent extremism, and ensure residents of the region enjoyed peaceful and sustainable livelihoods.
The items were presented to the beneficiaries by Holistic Development Organization (HOLIDO), an NGO, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with funding from the UN Peacebuilding Fund as part of the UN Peacebuilding Fund project.
Mr George Dam Laar, Chief Executive Officer of HOLIDO, speaking at a ceremony at Bunkpurugu to present the items to the beneficiaries, said it was to ensure that residents enjoyed peaceful and sustainable livelihoods and gain confidence to prevent conflicts and violent extremism.
He said, “Through continued collaboration, innovation and dedication, we have the power to transform lives, uplift communities and build a brighter future for generations to come.”
Miss Fati Attahiru, Acting Deputy Resident Representative at UNDP Ghana, said the intervention was part of UNDP’s broader strategy to promote inclusive governance, social cohesion and economic empowerment under the UN Peacebuilding Fund Project.
She said 850 women and youth in the North East, Upper West and Upper East Regions had so far directly benefited from the intervention, receiving not only equipment but also various capacity building and skills training to support them establish and improve their livelihoods.
She expressed the hope that the intervention would have a multiplier effect and said households would be positively impacted, beneficiaries would be employers of labour and there would be fewer idle people who might cause conflicts.
She said the intervention sought to prevent and address the root causes of localised and spillover conflicts as well as vulnerabilities to violent extremism in Northern Ghana.
“Through this project, more women and youth will have the knowledge and skills to advocate for their rights and opportunities to enhance their livelihoods.”
Naba Alhaji Abuba Nasinmong, Paramount Chief of Bunkpurugu Traditional Area, commended HOLIDO, UNDP and the partners for the initiative and encouraged the beneficiaries to support
others and also provide opportunities for others to be empowered to make the community prosperous.
Clementina Kombat, a Groundnut Processer and beneficiary, expressed gratitude to HOLIDO, UNDP and partners for the support and assured them that the skills training, capacity building and the support they had received would help them as beneficiaries to manage and advance their businesses to be able to absorb more youth.
GNA
EA/CA