SINGLE WOMEN CALLS FOR SUPPORT TO INCREASE RICE PRODUCTION/ NDC MEMBERS URGED TO UNITE

28-10-09 SINGLE WOMEN CALLS FOR SUPPORT TO INCREASE RICE PRODUCTION

Narration: The Daborin Single Mothers Association (SMA), a locally registered NGO based at Zuarungu a suburb of Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, is appealing to the government, District and Municipal Assemblies, NGOs and benevolent organizations to help the Daborin and Sumbrungu single mothers rice processing centers with the needed financial and logistic support to promote the Bolgatanga Quality Rice in order to reduce its importation. The President of the Association, Stella Abagre made the call when representatives from Oxfam GB, an International advocacy group from Burkina-Faso visited the Daborin Single Mothers Rice Processing Centre. . Isaac Asare has the rest of the story.


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The visit was to learn at first hand the operation of the Daborin Single Mothers Rice processing project, and also share ideas and experiences on how best locally produce rice would meet the international standard. The project which is being initiated by the Single Mothers Association,(SMA) is aimed at fighting the cause of deprived women in the society who are mostly widows and single mothers through poverty alleviation. The SMA also seeks to improve the livelihood of women and also fight against traditional practices which make women prone to single motherhood. The Upper East alone is home to over 900 registered single mothers who are into skills development training, basket weaving, among others. This serves as an income generating activity to the women and most importantly, provides economic and social empowerment to these deprived women. In an interview with Radio Ghana, the President of the Association, Mrs. Stella Abagre, commended most of the organizations for their support over the years. She said the SMA focuses its programming efforts to allaying the negative effects of the problems associated with single parenthood among women. Mrs. Abagre mentioned intra-family marriages, divorce, early childhood betrothal, preference for boy child and separation by death of a spouse as some of the challenges facing women in the region. He therefore called chiefs, traditional authorities and opinion leaders to abolish practices that affect the lives of women to help champion their cause. Mrs. Abagre also called on the support of government and individuals to help the Daborin Single Mothers Rice Project with funding to enable them produce more rice in the country. The Municipal Agric Extension Officer of MOFA, Alhassan Zimi also appealed to the government to allocate some of the schools under the Ghana School Feeding Programme to the single mothers rather than importing foreign rice on high purchase. This he said will reduce the 30 percent cost government spent in the importation of foreign rice into the country. Representatives from Oxfam GB were taken through the processes of rice parboiling which involves the process soaking, steaming and drying of the rice.



28-10-09 NDC MEMBERS URGED TO UNITE

The Upper East Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alhaji Bonaba has expressed government’s commitment to improving the living standard of Ghanaians better than before. He was speaking at the party’s congress held at Nangodi in the Nadbam Constituency of the Talensi –Nabdam District, to elect new executives to steer the affairs of the party. Mr. Bonaba commended all the delegates who were declared unopposed for their zeal and unity. The Nabdam Constituency Chairman of the party, Mr. Patrick Samare in his welcome address called on the rank and file of the party, to come together as one people to ensure total development in the district. Also the founding member of the Nabdam Constituency NDC, Mr. Thomas Moore on his part, said unity as the hallmark for peace is the surest way to development and urged all party faithfuls to collaborate effectively among themselves to ensure the party’s victory in the next elections. The District Chief Executive of the Talensi-Nabdam District, Mrs. Vivian Anarfo advised all the executive members to adhere to the rules and regulations of the party in order to move the party forward in the right direction. Mrs. Anarfo gave the advised after the swearing in ceremony.

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