Member of Parliament (MP) for Prestea Huni-Valley Constituency in the Western Region who also doubles as Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Lawyer Mrs. Barbara Oteng-Gyasi has launched Wassa Hemma Foundation and 'Obaapa Microfinance Scheme with a seed money of 120,000 Ghana Cedis (1.2 billion old cedis) to empower rural women for economic development.

These initiatives were honoured as one of her 2016 electioneering campaign promises she made to women in the Constituency.

The MP was assisted by the Second Lady of Ghana, Her Excellency Samira Bawumia for the launching on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at Bogoso.

The launching was under the ''theme Empowering The Rural Woman For Economic Development".

Speaking at the launching ceremony, the MP and Founder, Lawyer Barbara Gyasi thanked the Second Lady for her support and being the Special Guest to such a memorable occasion.

She also thanked the Deputy Minister for Western Region, Hon. Gifty Eugenia Kusi, whose good leadership at Tarkwa Nsuaem as MP for 16 years, encouraged her to contest the Prestea Huni-Valley seat in 2016, and replicate such good things she did.

"I was encouraged by Hon. Eugenia Kusi in 2016 to contest this seat and through her effort, you now see these initiatives here, may God bless her so much", she revealed.

She excited “Today is a joyful day for me, and for all women in Prestea Huni-Valley. During the campaign, some of you (women) told me you are not in my party, but you will vote for me because am a woman. I really appreciate what you did for me”.

She opined "Last week, at our Town Hall Meeting at Aboso, I elaborated what I have been doing to help the Constituency since you voted me into office. Today, I will state few that concerns women directly:"

1. Free Vacation Classes for all the three SHS in the Municipal (HUNIVAS, AUGUSCO, and PRESTEC)

2. 1-Mathematical Set per BECE candidate

3. Supplied GES, PHMA with 8 motor bikes for all Circuit Supervisors to work

4. Renovation of St. Augustine SHS Science Laboratory at Bogoso

5. Renovation of Aboso Library with ICT centres, with assistance from Goldfields Ghana

6. Renovation of Aboso Health Centre

7. Commencement of Municipal Hospital Construction at Bogoso

8. Expansion of Children Ward at Prestea Government Hospital ongoing

9. Cocoa Seedling project at Nsuaem, supporting Cocoa Mass Spraying Gangs with 50 Cocoa Spraying Machines, and support for Cocoa Pollinators

10. 6 rural communities each year is benefiting from mechanized boreholes, to ensure clean drinking water

11. Incubator for Prestea Government Hospital, and many more.

“What we are going to witness today is the Launching of Obaapa Micro Loan Scheme, under the theme: Empowering the Rural Woman for Economic Development. It is Obaapa because it is only a good woman, who is prepared to work hard to help her family and herself", she added.

She emphasized “I have set this up to make rural women in PHMA get access to funds for their businesses”.

She added, “I have also set up the Wassa Hemma Foundation (WHF), which is going to coordinate all the social interventions programmes am embarking on the Municipality as your MP. Thus, the Annual Health Screening, Micro Loan schem, Free Vacation Classes, support to disabled will all be under WHF".

The Special Guest of Honour, H.E Samira Bawumia supported the schemes with 20,000 Ghana Cedis for sustainability.

She told the gathering that “The NPP government under the leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is doing massively well to serve the good people of this country".

She urged "Don’t be deceived by people who you gave power to in last 8 years, and did virtually nothing to better your lives”. “I am really moved by what your MP, Barbara is doing, and I am also supporting with GHc 20,000. (200 million old cedis).

On her part, the Deputy Western Regional Minister, Hon. Gifty Eugenia Kusi, who had served as MP for Tarkwa Nsuaem for 16 years said, “I told you (women) to vote for Ante Barbara during the campaign, because I knew she will do more than I did for Tarkwa Nsuaem".

She added "What am seeing today is a vindication of what she is doing. Let us thank her and pray to God to bless her".

Speaking to GhanaWeb's Western Regional Correspondent before the launching, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the area, Hon. Mozart K. Owuh said, “the MP promised to help our women when voted into office, and she is here today to fulfil that commitment she made to you. Let us all (women) try to pay when given this money to make it sustainable”.

He seized the opportunity to thank the MP for the initiatives and pledged his total commitment to support these initiatives to achieve it intended purposes and urged the women to rally behind the MP to develop the Constituency.

These were the following dignitaries that graced the occasion, Dr. Tony Oteng-Gyasi, (husband of the MP, Barbara Oteng-Gyasi), Alhaji Mohammed, who came all the way from Canada, Hajia Abiba Mahama, Deputy MASLOC CEO, Abdul Ganiyu Mohammed, Western Region NPP Organizer, Horma Akasi Mienzah, Western Region NPP Treasurer, Al-Labib Shaman, Western Region NPP Nasara Coordinator, Hajia Saradatu Saddick, National Deputy Women Organizer, Obaheema Nana Esi Kwanstema the Chairperson for the programme, all NPP Constituency Executives, over 700 Women drawn from across Prestea Huni-Valley Municipal and the media.