Bongo (UER), Feb. 5, GNA - World Vision International (WVI), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) is assisting 400 women at Bongo-Soe in the Upper East Regoin with credit worth 41 million cedis to start a Micro Enterprise in sheabutter extraction.

The credit facility include 100 maxi bags of sheanuts, pots, pans, buckets, calabashes, empty drums for water storage and a cheque of one million cedis that is to be used for fuel wood

At the presentation ceremony in Bongo-Soe on Thursday, Ms. Benedicta Pealore, WVI Programme Manager said the women had proved themselves very trustworthy and hardworking at the small-scale income generating activities they had been engaged in and was chosen as a model for the WV's Micro Enterprise Development Programme.

"They started group work with a capital of 6 million cedis in 1998 and now have 48 million cedis in their account.

She said Kassardjan Company Limited has agreed to provide ready market and were demanding 7000 kg of sheabutter every two weeks. "This demand, we hope the women will be able to meet and in good time increase production",she added.

Ms Pealore said WVI was assisting eight other women's groups in the Bongo District at various small-scale income generating activities and expressed hope that the model group would set a precedence for the others.

Mr. Clement Apikiya, District Chief Executive, who presented the items on behalf of WV to the women, commended the NGO for doing so much for the district in the area of Education, Agriculture and Poverty Alleviation.

He said he was impressed by the initiative and communal spirit of the women and urged them to continue to work hard. Madam Susana Akurugu, spokesperson of the women said the 400 women were made up of 16 groups engaged in farming, petty trading, rice processing and shea butter extraction.

She said the women were dedicated to their work and assured WV that they would make good use of the credit and with time, sustain the project on their own.