The Upper East Region has been described as one of the poorest region in Ghana as most of the people are unable to earn $1.29 per a day. This creates a huge burden for the women especially the widows who refuse to participant in widowhood rites after the death of their husbands. This is because such widows cease to get any economic or emotional support from any family member. To this end, livelihood training was organized by Widows and Orphans’ Movement (WOM) with support from Plan International Ghana and Funding from Global Affairs Canada. The training focused on how to operate the village saving and loan, and how to use it and run businesses and solve other challenges. Through the project thirty percent of women have been financially supported through loan into invest into their various trade and gain financial independence. The project is also helping the government in achieving the sustainable development Goal one which is to end poverty in all its forms everywhere by 2030.
The project has empowered most women and making them economically independent. A widow and a member of the Zono women’s voice and leadership group, Anigana Asabire, 49, is a mother of four children who has been home for the past two years due to the collapsing of her business.
She said things have not been easy with her since she has to take care of the family without any source of income or help from anywhere. Madam Asabire recounts that participating in the livelihood training gave her hope to restart her defunct malt processing business.
She indicated that she restarted malt processing with one bag of guinea corn on credit and reached a verbal agreement with her supplier that, when she is done selling the one bag she pays all the money before collecting another one. This has been the routine for the past two months until last week she was able to get a loan from the group and bought six bags of the corn. This, according her, has broken the unending cycle of relying on the benevolence of the supplier.
”I am happy and relax because now I don’t have to go to the Bolga market after selling one”
Beneficiary of VSLA – Anigana Asabire
The project has helped to 89 women to overcome the financial barriers women face every day.