The Chireponi district in the Northern Region has organised a five-day community-based skills training programme for over 150 women to equip them with skills that will enable them to earn a living.

The women were taken though shea butter production, soap production, batik tie and dye, dress-making as well as hairdressing.

The programme, funded by the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and the Government of Ghana, is an initiative of the Chereponi district assembly aimed at ensuring that the welfare of the women -- who play critical role in the society -- is improved as part of efforts to alleviate poverty in one of the most poverty endemic regions in the country.

The District Chief Executive of Chereponi, Hajia Nikobu Mary, acknowledged that the current macroeconomic conditions have hit-hard the pockets of people -- making it necessary for policymakers and other stakeholders to embark on capacity building initiatives for the youths in a bid to reduce underemployment and unemployment especially in the rural areas.

She said conditions in the country are now ripe to actualise policies that empower women, who contribute largely to the socio-economic needs of the country.

She noted that many women have been deprived of their right to education and other vocational skills, which have compelled many of them to migrate to the south in search for non-existing jobs.

“It is quite unfortunate that the few women who are championing the cause of women are pulled down and frustrated by men, and hence the need for all assemblies to invest in the empowerment of women in the society,” she stressed.

Hajia Nikobu appealed for parents to invest in the welfare of their women, especially their education and vocational skills, to enable them acquire skills for national development, adding:

“I urge women to take advantage of the opportunities at hand to improve their business activities to attract more investors to the area and create jobs for the youths to enhance the economy."

She noted that the Chireponi Assembly is keen to see holistic development in education and entrepreneurial skills of the district.

Mr. Tanko Suleman, a facilitator at the training programme, also noted the contribution of small and micro enterprises to the economy’s prospects.

He said the ability of local producers to produce goods that are in demand would help to reduce the country’s rising import bill.

He called on training institutions to add entrepreneurial skills to their curricula to enable the students discover their talent before graduating, so they don’t add to the increasing number of unemployed in the country.