Ghana: Nut processing for accused "witches"

Summary

In parts of Ghana, women accused of being witches are permanently banned from village life. Until this practice can be addressed, processing shea produces just enough income for survival.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

When an unexplained illness or death occurs in the rural villages of the Volta region, the finger is sometimes pointed at a local woman. Accused as witches, the unlucky ones are murdered, while others are stripped of all possessions and banished to the isolated Timari-Tama Gambaga (witches' camp) where they survive on the barest minimum. Shea nuts are a natural resource in the area and the women have learned to process them manually, which generates a small income.

How will this project solve this problem?

A processing machine would provide the technology to increase their productivity and a packaging machine would enable them to eliminate middlemen and pack the butter themselves.

Potential Long Term Impact

Raise funds to buy a processing machine.

Project Message

With improved technology, these women can go from barely living to actually supporting themselves and their children.
- Hajia Amina Adam, Executive Director

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).

Resources