GHANA – Unilever Ghana has launched an entrepreneurial empowerment programme in Upper West (UW) to enhance financial stability among women. According to GNA, Unilever Ghana in collaboration with ProNet North has trained women in basic bookkeeping, financial management and savings principles under an Indian ‘Shakti’ business model.

The model seeks to create livelihood opportunities for underprivileged rural women and is reported to have provided over 80,000 micro-entrepreneur job opportunities in that country.

Women who had signed on to the project will receive a product loan of assorted Unilever items to sell, keep the profit and restock from the capital regenerated.

Assorted Unilever products including salt, soaps, assorted Lipton tea bags and toothpastes were presented to the women to start their own businesses.

“This initiative responds to the objectives of the Unilever sustainable living plan which promotes the enhancement of livelihoods of millions of people across the globe,” said Unilever Ghana’s Managing Director, Gladys Amoah.

“Empowering women economically has been one of the platforms adopted for advancing this course.”

The company has been able to reach out to millions of people with its Lifebuoy hand-washing campaign which emphasizes the need to wash hands, to prevent diarrhoea, cholera and other diseases.

“We have also been able to reach millions of people with our brush twice daily campaign, teaching children and adults alike the importance of brushing one’s teeth,” added Mrs. Amoah.

Mr Amidu Issahaku Chinnia, the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, commended Unilever for the initiative and made reference to a recent survey report by the Ghana Statistics Service that put unemployment rate in the area at 18.4%.

He said, to build a prosperous region, there was the need to start from women at the family level; “When we invest in women we are certainly going to reduce poverty in the country”.

Generating enough viable and reliable business capable of creating the needed jobs for the people has been the biggest challenge despite the region’s vast potentials in trade, agriculture and tourism.

Mr Chinnia said the government underlined its commitment towards ensuring strong private sector participation in growing the economy, to create wealth and jobs.

Gladys Amoah was recently appointed the new Managing Director of the company effective November 1, 2018.