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YOVI holds networking meeting for 120 women in agro-sector
Participants at the meeting
The Youth Development and Voice Initiative (YOVI), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has held a meeting to empower smallholder women aggregators and agro-processors in the maize, rice, groundnut, and shea value chains.
The two-day meeting, held in collaboration with governmental bodies, industry experts, and civil society organisations, convened 120 women beneficiaries alongside key stakeholders and representatives from the Sagnarigu Municipal and Nanton District of the Northern Region.
This was contained in a YOVI statement signed by Mr Hussein Rahman, its Executive Director, and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Tamale on Thursday.
The statement said, “The meeting, which was held on January 3-4, marks an important achievement as the fourth milestone since the inception of the Increasing Competitiveness of Smallholder Women Aggregators and Processors along the maize, rice, groundnut and Shea value chains for increased prosperity project in October 2023.
The project, which is supported by the United States Agency for International Development, (USAID) under the Ghana Trade and Investment Activity (GTIA) through the Nathan Associates, was being implemented in selected communities in the Sagnarigu Municipality and the Nanton District.
The statement said the primary objective of the meeting was to strengthen networks between women in agricultural value chains and financial service providers, input suppliers, reliable markets, and supporting government institutions.
It said, “Key achievements from this meeting include commitments from government representatives to support women in agro-processing, emphasising gender equality and economic empowerment.”
It said, “In addition, insights shared regarding product certification and quality standards by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) were highlighted as crucial for product credibility and consumer confidence.”
It said a significant milestone of the meeting was the registration of 20 participants, who expressed keen interest in formalising their small businesses.
The statement said representatives from restaurants and financial institutions pledged their support for collaborative effort to create enhanced market access opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
It said YOVI remained committed to fostering growth and empowerment within the agricultural sector, aiming to provide continued support and platforms for the advancement of women in agro-processing.
—GNA
News
Abronye remanded in police custody for one week
The Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, has been remanded into prison custody for one week.
He was brought before an Accra Circuit Court on Thursday, September 12, 2025, on charges of offensive conduct conducive to breach of the peace and publication of false news, which are classified as misdemeanours under Ghanaian law.
After hearing the case, the court ordered that he be kept in custody while investigations continue.
He is expected to reappear before the court on Thursday, September 19, 2025.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
Mahama promises more jobs and support for Zongo communities
President of the republic of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama has assured Muslim leaders that his government will continue to do everything possible to improve the economy and create jobs for the youth.
Speaking to a gathering of imams, Mr. Mahama emphasised the government’s main focus in education was to expand technical and vocational training so that young people could gain the skills they need to work and support themselves.
He added that special attention would be given to Muslim communities to ensure they benefit from the rollout of new training centres.
He mentioned that programmes such as Ajumawura, which offers small loans to start businesses, and the National Apprenticeship Programme, which helps especially young women to learn trades like dressmaking, would also help the youth to build a future for themselves.
On support for Zongo communities, Mr. Mahama said a coordinator and deputy had been appointed to lead the Zongo Development Fund.
He announced that they would soon begin work on a microcredit scheme called the Soya Fund.
The fund, he explained, would provide small loans to poor households in Zongo communities, especially women engaged in small-scale businesses such as selling waakye, cocoa, or running small shops.
He said artisans like dressmakers would also benefit.
The president thanked the imams for their continuous prayers for Ghana, saying their intercession had helped the country remain one of the most peaceful nations in Africa.
By: Jacob Aggrey
