Women’s Economic Empowerment: SNG Holds 2nd Trade Fair in Tamale

Shea Network Ghana (SNG), an organization of shea sector businesses, stakeholder and actors, in collaboration with the Tungteiya Womens’ Association (TWA), in an effort toward women’s economic empowerment, held their second Women’s Economic Empowerment Trade Fair.

The event, which took place at the Jubilee Park in Tamale on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, showcased an array of initiatives and support for women entrepreneurs from 4 communities in the Northern and Savanna Regions

The Trade Fair, a pivotal component of the “Gender Responsive Skills Development Training,” stood as one of the defining pillars of the Women’s Economic Advancement for Collective Transformation (WEACT) project which is being implemented across nine districts in Upper East, Upper West, Northern, Savanna, Western North, and Western Regions of Ghana, and aims to tackle economic barriers hindering women’s empowerment in Ghana.

Madam Ubaidatu Iddrisu, the WEACT Project Manager at Shea Network Ghana, in her welcome address, expressed gratitude to the attendees on behalf of the SNG, TWA, and the partnering organizations.

She also highlighted the project’s objective to directly impact approximately 5,400 women and girls and indirectly involve 3,510 men and boys over five years.

The event, according to her, focused on empowering women financially through various avenues, including initiatives promoting equality, agricultural financial services, financial literacy training, and engagement in Cocoa and Shea value chain entrepreneurship.

The Project Manager, emphasized the importance of the Gender Responsive Skills Development Training in facilitating access to innovative and sustainable gender-responsive business models. These efforts aim to create equal access to productive resources, including financial products and land ownership for women, funded by Global Affairs Canada and overseen by OXFAM.

The Trade Fair served multiple purposes, aiming to connect women entrepreneurs with suppliers and buyers relevant to their business plans. It sought to foster networks among stakeholders, deepen knowledge of products and services, and provide mentorship opportunities from established entrepreneurs.

Having previously organized a similar event last year, attended by over a hundred women beneficiaries from five districts, this year’s Trade Fair involved ninety women beneficiaries from three districts—Mion, West Gonja, and Savelugu. The goal was to facilitate connections between these enterprising women and exhibitors, enabling them to acquire necessary materials and guidance for their businesses.

She announced that the same event will be held for women in Sissala West Municipal in the Upper West and Garu District in the Upper East Regions, and acknowledged the pivotal roles played by OXFAM Ghana, Global Affairs Canada, partners, and exhibitors in driving the success of the project and the Trade Fair. She extended appreciation to the women beneficiaries for their collaboration and dedication to realizing the project’s goals.

The Trade Fair, attended by many stakeholders from private and governmental agencies, stood as a beacon of empowerment, offering women entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their business plans and establish vital connections within their respective industries, fostering a pathway towards sustained economic growth and inclusivity.