Friends of the Nation; a socio-economic and environmental advocacy NGO in the western part of Ghana, with support from its partners have provided three additional young women from Dixcove, Abuesi and Ngyiresia with equipment to start business. This is after they had received training in pastries making, sewing and hairdressing for over a year at locations the trainees chose. This brings to 8 the total number of young women who have been given training and made ready for business in 2021.

This livelihood empowerment project is part of measures FON and its partners have rolled out in the COVID-19 pandemic times to mitigate the economic effect of the virus on persons in coastal communities of Ghana. At a short passing out ceremony held at the premises of FoN, the trainees aged between 23 and 28 years were livid after receiving the items which would usher them into business.

“I am excited and forever grateful to FoN and its partners who have given me a reason to live and be happy. After completing the training, I was unable to start work to help myself and other siblings because I couldn’t get the equipment I needed to start. But my story has changed overnight with these items. I cannot wait to start business immediately.” Fredrica Dadzie stated.

The previous trainees, five in number, were unemployed women aged between 20 and 30 years drawn from the coastal communities of Abuesi, Anlo Beach, Shama, and Agona Nkwanta in the Ahanta West District. They went through five days of intensive training in cake making, bread of different varieties, assorted biscuits, meat and fish pies, among others.