Madam Hawawu Alhassan, affectionately called Dada, has for more than 20 years been roasting plantain and yam at Adabraka official town. Dada, now 58, said she began her trade by selling groundnut and included plantain later.
She said that at the time she started her trade, she did so with very little amount and said her venture has fared well, as through that she has been able to provide the basic necessaries of life for all her five children.
“I have not been able to build but I believe that once my children are educated and almost independent, one day they will give me my own place to lay my head.”
Narrating her story to Daily Graphic, she said that sitting by the fire all these years had not been very easy but had paid off. Dada hopes to retire from her trade someday.
She said she had never attempted to go in for a loan from anywhere to do her business but preferred buying on credit from her retailers.
Ghanaian women form over 52 per cent of the country’s population. The main economic activity for women in the rural areas in pre colonial times was agricultural production. Those along the coast sold fish caught by men.
But many of the financial benefits from their commercial activities went into the upkeep of the household, while whatever the man made was reinvested in the extended family business.
In spite of this, Ghanaian women have been able to rise to top professional positions. Some are employed in the same line of work as men and paid equal wages and granted maternity leave with pay.
Hitherto, trading has been the main economic activity for those with little or no education living in the urban centres. Despite gains in some areas, gender inequalities continue to limit women’s ability to participate in and contribute to the growth of the economy.
The Regional President of the Ghana Association of Women Entrepreneurs (GAWE), Ms Stacy Yayra Makumator, thinks that the government must focus on Ghanaian women in business, especially when they act as trainers.
“Women in business who desire to train others must receive the full backing to pull others along. There should be more collaboration between them and the various ministries, departments and agencies and that will help improve the lots of women.”
She explained that looking back in the last ten years, women have embraced the awareness creation on the need for them rise and be empowered, adding that women are doing better, perhaps, than men, in terms of business.
“Women themselves have realised it is time for them to be empowered, especially economically, so they can have a voice in decision making at home.”
She said majority of women were engaged in handicraft business but few in agric business and hoped the number will go up. According to her, a lot of women are now engaged in export trading activities.
She said most of the support women in business received was mostly technical and they lacked funding to expand their businesses. She advised women in business to exercise good bookkeeping and not keep money on them so they can get access to bank financing.
Ms Makumator encouraged women to take advantage of advancement in information, communication and technology for them to grow their businesses.
She was not happy that the ICT sector, which offers numerous opportunities, had been dominated by males and encouraged women to be proactive and innovative.
She said that for GAWE, promoting women in business was key on its agenda and said there were plans to this year to take them to the next level.
Ms Matilda Amissah is the Chief Executive of Matamiss Pottery, dealers in ceramics, outdoor and indoor flower vessels and gift items for all occasions, located at Tema. She began making ceramics in 1995 and had her first export in 1996.
She said her business was booming but was affected greatly by the economic crisis in Europe. From a workforce of 200, she now employs 15 people.
“My business has been growing from grace to grace but for the crisis. Most of my workers have left so now when I get orders, it is a great challenge to meet them.”
She said as a woman in business she used to get some form of support from the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and West Africa Trade Hub through securing stands at local and international exhibitions and also sourced buyers for her.
She appealed to government to support Ghanaian women in business in the form of grants so they could train others.
“If I get support, I can train about 30 females and 20 males in pottery within three to six months. This I believe will help create jobs for our unemployed youth and also help the economy to grow.”
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