By GIFTY BAABA ASMAH | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Organization: Daasgift Quality Foundation
Location: Takoradi, Ghana
Project Title: “Help Over 50 Ghanaian Women Develop Business”
Background: In 2011, DQF sought to raise funds through the GlobalGiving Platform to acquire a permanent piece of land for one of its women groups which depend on palm kennel oil production as their livelihood and source of income for supporting their children and families. This women falls within a minority group who migrated from the northern part of Ghana. The women need a budget of US$11,500 to own a permanent land to do their work, build a storage shed and a wash house. So far US $642 has been realized through the GlobalGiving platform – remaining $10,858.
Current Situation: The situation created by the non-availability of a permanent land to do business has forced majority of small scale palm kennel oil producers at Kwesimintsim – a suburb in the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolis of Ghana to abandon their only source of livelihood; deepening their household vulnerability to poverty. The land on which they operated has been sold out to a private developer who is putting-up an office complex – supposedly of one of the many oil firms trooping into the twin city of Sekondi – Takoradi. The handful of squatting women who are illegally adamant in moving out of the sold land due to the unfavorable consequences continue to face growing eviction as the days goes by.
As it stands now, the women are not able to operate at maximum. Their activities are restricted daily by on-going construction works by the developer – cutting down their profit margins close to $1000 each month – a situation which has been persisting for the past one (1) year. This has presented grave threat to their livelihood and the survival of their dependents – mostly children of school going age. With the current emerging oil industry in the Western Region of Ghana, the need for land by industry giants is growing by the day – pushing high the price of land at a rocketing pace.
“The consequences will be unbearable as we have now lost our only source of livelihood because we don’t have a permanent land to work on” – says 65yr old Fati Adam
Our deepest gratitude goes to the Team at GlobalGiving for allowing us to tell the world stories of poor and vulnerable groups – as in the case of the Kwesimintsim palm kennel oil producers through their platform. We are equally thankful to the many individuals around the globe who remain supportive to Daasgift Quality Foundation (DQF) through other means. We will forever remain grateful!
We at Daasgift Quality Foundation is of the view that the need for partnership and donor support for this 50 vulnerable minority women is urgent now than ever. All over the world, there is clear evidence of progress made through determination, innovation and partnership. Until we are able to respond fully to the needs of these women, our efforts must not rest!
DQF – June 2012
By Gifty Baaba Asmah | Executive Director, Daasagift Quality Foundation
By Elvis Quashiga | Project Manager
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