GHANA – The Government of Japan under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGHSP) has handed over a shea butter processing facility to a farming community in Gushegu Municipality, Northern region of Ghana.

The project was implemented by Grameen Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) with a GH¢388,500 (US$75,000) funding from GGHSP.

The proceeding plant is expected to improve the shea nut value chain in the region which is mainly characterised by traditional method of shea processing.

According to a GhanaWeb report, the facility features a processing machinery, administration office, water supply system among other infrastructural support system.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in Ghana, Mr Hiromoto Oyama, said that plant will also boost shea butter production in the country

“As the shea butter business is one of the few employment opportunities available to women in northern Ghana, this processing centre is expected to help advance the living standard and empowerment of women in this community” he said.

Mr Oyama also noted that the project would go a long way to help build a strong foundation to promote the “Ghana Beyond Aid” agenda, through livelihood growth and empowerment of women who would be essential contributors towards the national agenda.
Additionally, the Executive Director of Grameen Ghana, Mr Mohammed Al-Hassan Adams, gave an assurance that his outfit would continue to monitor the facility to ensure that it was used for the intended purpose.

He also explained that the main vision of his outfit was to ensure food security and empower women economically to enable them support the upkeep of their children, and also to alleviate poverty.
Also present in the ceremony, Dr Ziblim Iddi, commended Grameen Ghana and its partner for the gesture.

He pledged a seed capital of GH¢6,000 for the women groups to enable them to start operating the facility.

He maintained that the plant would help ensure food and nutrition security in a sustainable manner in the community.
Some women who spoke to the Daily Graphic expressed their gratitude to the NGO for providing them with the facility, adding that it would help improve their livelihood.