Bongo-Soe women to export Sheabutter

Bongo-Soe (U/E), Feb. 26, GNA- The Bongo-Soe Women's Group in the Upper East Region have processed 22 maxi bags of sheanuts into sheabutter for export.

The group comprising 400 women who were given 100 bags of shea nuts by World Vision International Ghana (WVI), early this month, processed the sheanuts into butter to be sold at 5,000 cedis per kilogram to Kassardjan Company for export.

The WVI Advisory Council led by its Chairman, Reverend Dr. T. B. Dankwa, visited the women on Wednesday at Bongo-Soe as part of a familiarisation tour of projects undertaken by WVI's Bongo Area Development Programme (ADP).

Rev. Dr. Dankwa commended the women for working hard and said the Council had heard of their commitment and zeal to work and would give support in whatever venture they initiated.

He advised them to invest the money they made in health and education of their children.

A member of the Council, Dr. Mrs Mariama Awumbila, urged the women to remain united and helpful to each other.

Ms Benedicta Pealore, Manager of the Bongo ADP of World Vision, said the group was the most well organised and hard working among the eight groups in the area.

She said they had made progress in their income generating ventures, rising from a capital of 5 million cedis in 1998 to 52 million cedis this year, and would be making more money from the sale of sheabutter.

She said the women had been supported to start the Micro Enterprise in sheabutter extraction so as to promote sustainability in their ventures even when they were no more receiving credit from WVI. Ms Pealore explained that the focus of WVI was on the child and that the projects they were supporting aimed at making children the final beneficiaries.

She urged the women to take good care of their children and serve them with the best portions of the meals they prepare. Madam Susana Akurugu, leader of the women's group said the financial gains made by the group had helped the women to look after their dependants.

She said members of the group work closely together, supporting each other and ensuring that they paid all their debts on time.