Wa (Upper West) -- Christian Mothers Association, a Catholic women's organisation, in collaboration with Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) has constructed and equipped six sheabutter extraction projects valued at 500 million cedis in six communities in the three Northern Regions.

It is part of their activities to empower women, reduce poverty, and enhance dynamic Christian values and to make them self-reliant.

Mrs. Augustina Boachie, National chairman of the Association said this when she commissioned one of such projects at Duokpong a suburb of Wa on Wednesday.

The project, which is valued at 50 million cedis, includes the sheabutter extraction equipment, which is to enable the women to engage in income generating activities.

Mrs. Boachie said apart from the sheabutter projects, the association has been able to help over 200 local women groups to establish various enterprises though most of them were still at the micro level.

The National President called on the District Assemblies and opinion leaders to enact by-laws that will seek to protect valuable trees including the sheanut trees to ensure the growth of the industry.

Rt. Rev. Paul Bemile, Bishop of the Wa Diocese who commissioned the project called on JICA and other Non-governmental organisations to provide ready markets for the products of the projects so as to whip up the interest of women in that venture.

The Bishop urged the association not to restrict the project to only educated women but to employ and train illiterate unemployed women to appreciate the benefits of the project.

Alhaji Ali Seidu Pelpuo, Wa District Chief Executive called on the new government to continue with all good projects initiated by the former government in order not to impede the orderly progress of the area.

He said women in Northern Ghana are burdened with poverty, illiteracy and ignorance and called on all women organisations to strive to enlighten them to improve on their lots at their various levels.

Alhaji Pelpuo also urged beneficiaries of the projects to maintain them regularly so that other generations will benefit from both the equipment and structures.