Vogoni:Nadowli-Kaleo: A total of 115 women from the Goriyiri and Vogoni communities in the Nadowli-Kaleo District and Duori-Tangkuri in the Jirapa Municipality have undergone skills training in the production of household detergents and cosmetics. This training aims to provide them with alternative livelihood opportunities.
According to Ghana News Agency, the initiative was launched by the African Centre for Human Rights and Sustainable Development (AfCHuRSD) as part of its Girls and Women Economic Empowerment, Livelihood and Participation in Leadership (GWEEL) program. The program seeks to mitigate economic vulnerabilities among women, contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 and 5, which focus on poverty reduction and gender equality.
The trainees learned to produce various types of soap, such as bar, brilliant, BF, and liquid soap, along with pomade. Some participants who excelled during the training were given start-up kits to help them establish small-scale businesses in their communities.
During the training session at Vogoni, Madam Bernice Naah, Executive Director of AfCHuRSD, urged the women to utilize their new skills to start small businesses, which would enhance their income. She also encouraged them to use their products and market them in other communities to create demand and expand their businesses.
Madam Naah highlighted that producing these items for household use could help the women save money for essential needs, such as their children's education. Beneficiaries expressed their gratitude for the initiative, noting that it would enable them to become economically productive. Madam Alice Dakubo, one of the participants, emphasized the importance of using the acquired skills to support their families, as relying solely on their husbands was insufficient.
Additionally, Madam Dakubo appealed for financial support from the government, philanthropic organizations, and individuals to help them start businesses using their newly acquired skills. She stressed the potential benefits of these skills in improving incomes and supporting their children's education.
In a related effort, the NGO engaged women's groups in Daffiama and Nadowli to explore livelihood opportunities. The women, mainly farmers, showed interest in poultry farming during the off-farming season and requested support for this venture.
Madam Naah committed to inviting agricultural extension officers to provide technical guidance and support before distributing chickens. The NGO also used the engagement to raise awareness about gender-based violence and the Affirmative Action Gender Equity Act, 2024 (Act 1121), to enhance women's rights and participation in development.