Ignite 2019, a business incubation programme with the theme; Inspiring Action has been unveiled at Accra on 20th November 2019 with sixteen (16) proficient and intelligent women in the Agric value chain from nine (9) African countries.
In the welcoming address, the initiator of Guzakuza, Nana Adjoa A. Sifa assured the women of full participation, knowledge acquisition and practical enhancement of their sectors of operation before they leave for their respective countries.
Speaking to Agric Today Media, Nana Adjoa said that Ignite for previous years has had an impact on the lives of women across the African continent. The programme has changed the narrative by raising and scaling up the contributions of women in the Agribusiness. Talking about the success of the programme for the past 2 years, Ignite has reduced the unemployment rate and has added value to its products. She made an example of a woman in the Northern Region of Ghana, called Linda Atibila who is in Shea butter production and she has employed more than a hundred (100) youth women in her area.
According to her, the setback of Guzakuza is sponsorship. ‘For the past two years Guzakuza has been sponsoring this programme so we are appealing to all the Stakeholders in the Agric Sector and Private individuals who are lovers of Agriculture to support us financially to sustain this programme to bring out the best in the African women in the Agribusiness sector’, she said.
The president of the women in the Agribusiness, Mabel Quarshie, advised the women to desist from depending on government for everything and cultivate the habit of self-reliance. She admonished that the government has a lot of duties to perform for the citizens and as a result may not be able to meet their demands, therefore, the women should start their businesses with the little capital available to them. She encouraged them to work zealously to promote women in agribusiness between and among African countries.
The able Igniters expressed their gratitude to Guzakuza for organizing such a wonderful and insightful programme to bring women from African Countries on board to gain knowledge and value addition to their agriculture products.
According to the Igniters, as women, they are faced with some challenges. First of all, they are always denied of start-up capital from banks as compared to men. They expounded that since they are ladies banks feel insecure to entrust them with capital for farming. The second challenge is the acquisition of farmland. The land is the most significant factor in farming but as women, the society looks down on them when they request farmland. They bemoaned saying men do not go through such difficulties when looking for land for farming.
Ignite is a Guzakuza initiative for young women in Agribusiness which is designed to promote job and wealth creation. Every year about 16 women are selected across the African continent to participate in this game-changing initiative.
These are the names of the Igniters and their countries;
Name Country
Tsaone Mokwatso Botswana.
Pheladi Chiloane South Africa
Marie-Louise Annan UK/ Ghana
Eva Ndamono Shitaatala Namibia
Everlyne Achieno Uganda
Ruth Nyamweru Wambari Kenya
Khumo Mosathupa South Africa
Alexia Kakia Kenya
Brenda Alex Tanzania
Esther Mushi Tanzania
Rhoda Saan Ghana
Babalwa Nongogo South Africa
Alshima Mohammed Adam Sudan
Alexandra Prempeh Ghana
Oluwa Seaun Nji-Kolawole Nigeria
Brenda Bossman-Adotevi Ghana.
