A total of one hundred women from the Nadowli-Kaleo, Wa East and Daffiama-Bussie-Issa Districts and the Wa Municipality in the Upper West Region have received Unilever products worth GH¢1,400.00 each from Unilever Ghana PLC through ProNet North under its project dubbed, “Suntaa project”.
The products included boxes of Key soap bars, boxes of pepsodent toothpaste, boxes of geisha soap, and boxes of sunlight soap which are all products of Unilever Ghana PLC.
The beneficiaries were expected to use the products capital to run their business for the first ten months and repay the loan amount over the next one year.
The beneficiaries were taken through about two months of vigorous entrepreneurship training including record keeping to equip them with the requisite skills to better manage their businesses.
Speaking at a brief ceremony in Wa on Tuesday to hand over the items to the beneficiaries, the Managing Director of Unilever Ghana PLC, Mr George Owusu-Ansah, noted that the initiative was a testament of the commitment of the company to contributing to the creation of a more fair and inclusive society.
“This is the opportunity that is extended to our women in the region, and we have great expectation of success stories.
“And it is very heartening that Key soap, a brand that has been in this country for generations has taken it upon itself to give these women who have patronized Key a chance to do well in their lives”, he added.
Mr Owusu-Ansah encouraged the beneficiaries to remain focus on investing the capital to generate the needed results for the betterment of their families and the society in general.
The Executive Director of ProNet North, Mr Martin Dery observed that the partnership between his NGO and Unilever Ghana PLC was a great milestone as it was a move to help reduce the poverty level in the region, especially among the women.
He gave the assurance that his outfit would work assiduously to ensure the success of the “Suntaa” programme to enable it reach a lot more women in the region.
According to Mr Dery, the initiative would not only lead to poverty reduction among the beneficiary women, but that it will also help improve sanitation and hygiene among the communities through the use of the products.
“These products will ensure that our households can maintain a high level of hygiene and also become a sustainable source of income for our beneficiaries.
“I have every confidence that the women gathered will do the region proud and ensure that they follow the process as it has been outlined over the past month or so,” Mr Dery intimated.
Mr Dery added that they have engaged the men at the communities to support the women to grow their business.
Some of the beneficiaries, who spoke on behalf of the group, commended the benefactors for the support and pledged their resolve to ensuring that the programme become a success for their own benefit and for the benefit of the society.