By Albert Futukpor, GNA
Voggu (N/R), Nov 09, GNA – Plan International Ghana has handed over a Women-Friendly Solar Hub to the Voggu community in the Kumbungu District to improve women’s access to business development services, digital technology and market information to strengthen their economic activities.
The facility, established under the Women’s Innovation for Sustainable Enterprises (WISE) project, is to serve women entrepreneurs in 60 beneficiary communities in the district by providing a one-stop centre for business support, learning, networking and access to economic opportunities.
The hub is a solar-powered facility equipped with desktop computers, internet connectivity, fans, charging ports, freezers, television sets, information storage panels and filing cabinets to support women in their business activities.
It also has a meeting and learning space where women can access entrepreneurship training, business management guidance, mentorship, financial inclusion services and information on markets and available economic opportunities.
Additionally, the project has supported beneficiary women’s groups with agricultural and business equipment including maize threshers, grinding mills and tricycles to improve agricultural production, processing and transportation.
The interventions are to reduce the cost and difficulties women encounter in farming and processing activities, improve productivity, minimise post-harvest losses and enable them to generate more income.
The WISE Project, implemented by Plan International Ghana and Plan International Canada in partnership with WIDO and Urbanet, with funding support from Global Affairs Canada, was undertaken between January 2020 and March 2025 in 150 communities in five districts.
It sought to address barriers limiting women’s participation in economic activities and their ability to build sustainable livelihoods.
Madam Muniratu Issifu, Country Director of Plan International Ghana, speaking at the handing-over ceremony in the community, said the project had recorded 11.2 per cent increase in the Women and Girls Empowerment Index while the likelihood of participating households living below the poverty line had decreased by 10.5%.
She said the project adopted a gender-transformative approach by supporting women entrepreneurs, engaging men and community leaders as allies, strengthening access to financial and business services and helping women build networks for their economic advancement.
Madam Issifu said the establishment of three women-friendly solar hubs including the Voggu facility was amongst the investments made to ensure that beneficiary communities continued to enjoy the project’s benefits beyond its implementation period.
She said the hub, formally inaugurated on November 10, 2022, by Mr Alan Kyerematen, the then Minister for Trade and Industry, was being entrusted to the Voggu community on behalf of the other beneficiary communities in the district.
She urged traditional leaders, community representatives and women entrepreneurs to take collective ownership of the facility and establish effective management and maintenance arrangements to ensure its sustainability.
Mr Mohammed Jibril Basit, Executive Director of Urbanet, said the provision of the facility demonstrated the strength of partnerships and a shared commitment to sustainable development and improved livelihoods.
He expressed appreciation to the traditional authorities amongst other stakeholders for their contributions to the successful implementation of the project.
He urged the project stakeholders to ensure that the facility and its equipment remained functional and served their intended purpose.
Naa Sulemana Saaka, the Chief of Voggu, expressed gratitude to the partners of the project and said the intervention would create opportunities for women to generate income and support their families.
He said the maize threshers would ease the difficulties women faced during harvest seasons when they had to travel to other communities and pay high rental fees to access such equipment.
Madam Nafisah Iliasu, a beneficiary, said the WISE project had improved women’s capacity to undertake income-generating activities and contribute to household upkeep.
She said women previously struggled to meet their children’s educational and household needs due to limited economic opportunities, but the project had helped them establish businesses and improve their livelihoods.
She said the additional agricultural equipment would further ease their farming activities and reduce the cost and difficulties associated with hiring machinery from other communities.
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Albert Futukpor
Email: [email protected]