Wa, May 03, GNA - Members of the Saint Andrews Widows Association based at Wa on Wednesday appealed to Government and non-governmental organizations for financial assistance to undertake income generating activities to support their children in school. They contended that in the past members of the extended family assisted widows and their children but had stopped, there was the need for them to undertake their own income-generating projects to cater for themselves and their children.

Mrs Christina Gariba, Chairperson of the association, made the appeal during its inauguration at Konta a suburb of Wa. She said commended Mr Daniel Gala, Managing Director of Dangali Enterprise at for his assistance to them when they were about 10 members, but with an increase in their number to about 100, it had been difficult for him to take care of them.

Mrs Gariba said while some of them were engaged in pito brewing, others were engaged in other projects and with a little financial assistance, could enable them take better care of their families. Mr Ambrose Dery, Upper West Regional Minister inaugurating the Association, gave the assurance that the association would be registered under the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy fund to secure financial assistance to take better care of their families.

He said widowhood was not a curse and urged extended families to open up to widows in their communities to realize their potentials. Mr Dery urged them to unite as a viable and vibrant group to attract financial assistance from financial institutions in the country. Mr Gala pledged his commitment to continue to assist the association.

In another development, members of the Saint Monica Widows of Piina in the Jirapa/Lambussie District in the region have appealed to Government to assist them to undertake agricultural projects in their communities. GNA