The Youth and Women Empowerment (YOWE) has encouraged the Kpong Fishmongers Association to take proactive steps to formalise their operations, thereby facilitating a productive partnership with various stakeholders.

The engagement allowed the organizers to enlighten the women on the proper steps to formalise their operations, which included organizing the leadership of the group, framing a constitution, and establishing by-laws to guide their operations.

As part of its mandate, YOWE is facilitating the formal registration of the group with the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Assembly and other stakeholders and service providers. Monday's engagement was, therefore, a crucial step toward helping the traders achieve this goal.

Explaining the purpose of the engagement, YOWE Executive Director Mr. Emmanuel Nuetey Siakwa noted that the NGO aims to formalize, register, and train members of the group.

Highlighting the benefits members would enjoy, he said, “Now that the group is being formalised, it is supposed to be well recognized by the Assembly, which will give them a voice. Whenever they call the Assembly for discussion or engagement, the Assembly will recognize that this group exists.”

This recognition, he explained, would encourage the Assembly to extend the necessary assistance and initiate steps to address the various challenges facing the group and its activities.

Madam Mercy Fiogbr, Board Chairperson of YOWE, explained that the traders were also being educated on the dangers of using chemicals in food preservation. “We’re also teaching them not to use chemicals to preserve the fish and are showing them the proper way to do it,” she said.

She expressed satisfaction with the commitment shown by the fishmongers and hoped that they would contribute to the success of the engagement.

She further explained that the traders would also receive training on proper financial management to help them effectively manage the profits from their sales. She urged the beneficiaries to make themselves available at all times to stay informed and learn.

Madam Mabel Kokroko, Chairperson of the Kpong Fishmongers Association, emphasized the importance of unity and expressed optimism that their togetherness would drive progress and open doors for assistance from various stakeholders.

The traders are currently seeking intervention from relevant authorities to address several challenges they face at the harbour.

These include poor road networks, a lack of sanitation facilities, pollution of the riverbanks, environmental pollution, dysfunctional street lights and their attendant security risks, inadequate fish storage equipment, and a lack of potable water.

According to Madam Kokroko, the members are ready to join forces to ensure that the vision of their engagement, which aims to address these numerous challenges, is realized.

This engagement with YOWE, a youth and women-centered NGO, is part of the 18-month long second phase of its Action for Voice, Influence, and Inclusive Development (AVID-2) Project.

The project, sponsored by the STAR-Ghana Foundation, aims to train various groups to empower them with the requisite knowledge and skills to enhance their businesses.

Monday’s engagement with over 50 fishmongers is part of a strategic plan to create a platform for the fishmongers to engage with the appropriate authorities. It will also ensure that decisive action is taken to address the challenges facing the fishmongers at the harbour.

The project is expected to improve sales for the traders, enabling them to support themselves, their dependents, and the larger community.