How a whopping 24,000 women-led businesses got empowered to bring development in their communities

Story by: Rafiq Nungor Adam


In a recent policy dialogue event marking the International Day of Rural Women in Wa, Upper West Region, Fidelis Dadzie, Deputy Chief of Party of Mobilizing Finance in Agriculture Activities, highlighted the remarkable support provided to over 40,000 businesses.

Among these, 24,000 are women-led enterprises dedicated to overcoming barriers and making substantial contributions to their communities and the agricultural sector at both sub-national and national levels.

The event, centered around the theme "Shaping Ghana's Agricultural Future: The Role of Rural Women," was organized in collaboration with USAID/Ghana and its implementing partners under the Feed the Future initiative – Policy LINK, Mobilizing Finance in Agriculture (MFA), and Market Systems Resilience (MSR), as well as Resilience in Northern Ghana and Systems Strengthening Activity (RING II) and Ghana Trade and Investment Initiative (GTI) along with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s Women in Agricultural Development Directorate (WIAD).



The commemoration aims to amplify the efforts of rural women by emphasizing their pivotal roles, inspiring others, and fostering a change in mindset and behavior towards women in agriculture.



Dadzie said “Our mission is straightforward. We advocate for improvements that farmers can make. We work in collaboration with financial institutions and other advisory bodies to address issues related to financial access. Today, we're delighted to have supported over 40,000 businesses, with 24,000 of them being women, which is a significant achievement. We're here to celebrate the remarkable presence and influence of women in our region, who are changing perceptions and making positive impacts in their communities.”



The International Day for Rural Women is celebrated annually on October 15th. This day aims to recognize the crucial role that rural women play in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security, and eradicating rural poverty.



Rural women often make significant contributions to their communities and families through activities such as farming, small-scale businesses, and household responsibilities. The International Day for Rural Women provides an opportunity to highlight their achievements, challenges, and the need for gender equality in rural areas.


Dadzie emphasized that lending to women results in wise investments, creating a positive environment. He noted: “The women we've worked with have shown that when you lend to a woman, she will invest wisely and share her earnings, fostering a positive environment in contrast to the prevailing fear and uncertainty. Your influence has been instrumental in shifting the financing landscape and empowering communities. VSL groups have emerged as a vital part of this transformation, teaching banks and financial institutions how to improve their services and products.”

Yunus Abdulai, the Country Lead of Feed the Future Ghana Policy LINK, has affirmed the project's long-term commitment to supporting women in agriculture.

He highlighted that this support would be extended through strategic collaborations with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and other stakeholders, aiming to enhance the inclusion and active participation of women in agriculture policy systems.


"In April of this year, Policy LINK took a significant step by supporting 20 women awardees of the 2022 National Farmers' Day Celebrations. As part of the project's award package, these women received training in leadership, financial management, and personal initiative skills. This initiative has yielded remarkable results, as the women awardees have come together to form the Ghana Association of Female Agriculture and Fish Farming Award Winners (GAFAFAW). GAFAFAW's mission is to raise awareness and empower women in agriculture, encouraging their active contribution to agricultural policy systems."

Rashida Iddrisu, a key figure in Women in Agricultural Development at the Wa Regional Department of Agriculture, remarked on Ghana's substantial strides in agriculture.

However, she emphasized the critical need to unlock the untapped potential of rural women. She expressed that: “Ghana has made commendable progress in agricultural development, but there is still much work to be done. By harnessing the untapped potential of rural women, we can accelerate this progress and create a more inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous future for all Ghanaians. Rural women, through their dedication and hard work, can contribute to increased agricultural productivity, improved food security and enhanced rural livelihoods.”