Senase (B/R),- The communities outside urban centres often lose many things vital for their progress where issues concerning gender empowerment and vulnerable groups are not given the needed attention and priority.
Ms. Silvia Tizzi, the Project Manager, Sunyani Office of VIS Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) made the observation when speaking at a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a GH₵500,000.00 soap production warehouse at the Nana Owusu Fakyiwaa Soap Resource Centre at Senase, in the Berekum East Municipality of the Bono Region.
The project with mini-grant of Gh₵145, 000.00 and actions of marketing promotion was financed by the Italian Catholic Bishops’ Conference and jointly implemented by VIS Ghana in collaboration with BOK Africa Concern, a Berekum-based NGO, Salesians of Don Bosco AFW and the Catholic Dioceses of Sunyani and Techiman.
The objective is to promote local economic development with strategy for gender empowerment to mitigate irregular migration through raising awareness about the risks associated with irregular migration in schools, on radio and through community events.
Ms. Tizzi said research had shown “if women do not fully participate in development and decision-making process, this affects improvement in areas such as health, education and protection”, hence the project seek to support economically and financially disadvantaged women for enhanced livelihoods, she added.
In broader sense, Ms. Tizzi explained the project aimed to create new opportunities for the youth and vulnerable groups by giving training in models like soap production, training in organic agriculture and providing access to financial tools – mini-grants and micro-credit schemes with funding for community borehole projects and women cooperative groups.
“The project will be supported by fixing two main challenges to strengthen the skills of the cooperatives for an effective functioning of its workers concerning administrative work, promote good marketing and brand promotion at the local and national levels”, she added.
Mr Kofi Adjei, the Berekum East Municipal Chief Executive encouraged the project’s implementing partners to deliver continuous social services like livelihood development, advocacy on gender issues, youth and rural development.
He pledged the Assembly’s readiness to support for the successful implementation of the project and commended BOK Africa and VIS Ghana for their remarkable efforts to promote the progress of Senase and the entire Municipality.
There was a signing of commitment agreement by key stakeholders to execute the project.
Source: Ghana News Agency
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