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Women breaking gender inequality in Bawku West
Women working together
Faiza Osman is among many rural women farmers who are matchlessly, producing 70 per cent of Africa’s rice despite the many obstacles they face.
Majority of these smallholder farmers who are into agriculture in Gentiga, in Bawku West in the Upper East Region, continuously break gender disparity, climate change and financial exclusion barriers in order to support their husbands in taking care of their families.
Speaking to Madam Faiza on her farm close to the Red Volta, she said, traditionally, there is a gender productivity gap that mandates women to support their husbands in the morning and work on their personal farms in the evening.
“Due to limited access to land, technology, adaptation, domestic care work and financial support, we end up using our profits from the little farms to take care of the children,” she said.
She said, since majority of the women living in rural communities have no other employment than farming, they were compelled to work harder in order to support the family.
However, whenever there is a training or any financial support, it is the men who are considered first because the women were considered less privileged.
Madam Faiza believes that, if equal opportunities were given to both women and men, the women would produce more to feed the family and the nation as a whole.
Sherifatu Adam, a smallholder farmer in Tumu, urged the government and other agricultural institutions to give women equal opportunities in training, climate change education and financial support in order to expand their farms.
Mr Mahama Salifu, the District Agricultural Director at the East Mamprusi District in the Upper West Region, applauded the contribution of women smallholder farmers in producing to feed the nation.
He said, majority of the staple crops such as maize, rice and millet were produced by the women in smaller quantities but becomes so much when put together.
“With what I have witnessed so far, I believe that with additional support, they would be able to produce more to address food insecurity concerns of the country,” he said.
He said many of these women lack training, financial support as well as access to farmlands which hinder their capacity to produce more.
He commended Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) for their role in partnering with the government in the agricultural sector.
From: Geoffrey Buta, Gentiga
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Ghana to locally refine its gold starting October 2025 – Sammy Gyamfi
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, has announced that plans are far advanced for the establishment of a state-owned gold refinery in the country.
Speaking at the 2025 Minerals and Mining Convention, Mr Gyamfi said the refinery will process locally mined gold into bullion instead of exporting it in its raw state.
According to him, it is unacceptable that Ghana, despite being a leading gold producer in Africa, continues to export raw gold known as dore.
He explained that the Gold Board, working with the Bank of Ghana and local refineries, will from October 2025 begin refining gold locally.
He also disclosed that an ultramodern assay laboratory will be built to ensure international standards in testing gold quality.
Mr Gyamfi noted that the refinery will be wholly state-owned and will help Ghana move away from raw mineral exports to value addition.
This, he said, will boost foreign exchange earnings, create jobs, and position Ghana as a hub for gold refining and jewellery production in Africa.
The CEO stressed that the project forms part of government’s strategy to ensure the country benefits fully from its natural resources and to transform the mining sector into a driver of economic growth.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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There is strength in diversity; let’s live in peace – Zanetor Rawlings urges Ghanaians
Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has urged Ghanaians, especially the youth, to value the peace the country enjoys and to see diversity as a source of strength.
Speaking at the National Youth Conference held at the Pentecost Convention Centre under the theme “Igniting Potential; Inspiring Change”, she warned against being lured into conflicts and divisions fueled by reckless statements from politicians, traditional leaders, religious figures, or academics.
According to her, many young people have no idea what it means to live in a country torn apart by war, and therefore must not take Ghana’s peace for granted.
She stressed that the harmony among different ethnic and regional groups should be protected at all costs, since it is peace that allows citizens to gather freely and safely.
Dr. Zanetor said Ghana’s development depends on embracing diversity and working together.
She urged the youth to tap into this strength so that Ghana would continue to shine as the “Black Star” of Africa and serve as an example for other nations.
She expressed appreciation to the participants for attending the conference and asked for God’s blessings on the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
