A Canadian non-governmental organization supporting rural women in agricultural areas has identified illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey as a major economic risk to women in cocoa farming.

Agricultural Risk Management Specialist for SOCODEVI, Samuel Apenteng observed many women in rural areas have had their cocoa farms destroyed by illegal miners.

He said many are also finding it difficult to get labourers to support their work.

Speaking at a durbar to commemorate the 2024 International Rural Women’s Day in the Ashanti Regional town of Dompoase, some of the farmers shared experiences of how their lives have been affected by galamsey.

"All our farmlands are being destroyed by the Galamseyers and because of the pollution of our water bodies, we don't get water to drink on the farm unless we come home from the farm” One woman noted.

The Agricultural Risk Management Specialist for SOCODEVI, Samuel Apenteng said women play enormous community roles and provide support for a number of families for which reason their livelihoods should be protected.

“Women sacrifice a lot to make families and communities move and this makes them valuable assets globally,” he stated.

The Day was celebrated under the theme: “The empowered rural woman, a healthy and prosperous community.”

Mr Apenteng observed that “climate risk is another challenge the farmers are battling with adding that they have made a proposal to the government and the Ghana Cocobod on these issues.

He called on stakeholders, especially men to come together and work towards improving the livelihoods of women, stressing that they should not be left behind.

Mr Apenteng noted that SOCODEVI has initiated a project to bridge the gender gap and empower women and youth in some rural communities of Ghana.

The Women Cooperative representative at Dompoase, Doris Bosompem and other beneficiary women commended SOCODEVI and partners for introducing them to loans, savings schemes, and skills development training.

Madam Lilian Kuutiero, Gender Equality Facilitator for the Project, said women are being taken through leadership development, building entrepreneurial skills and receiving start-up assistance.

The aim is to empower about 3,000 women above age 36 and some 1,000 youth between ages 18 and 35 at the end of the project period.

Aside from these, the project is introducing women farmers to savings and loan associations which have been proven to be a flexible form of credit acquisition.

Madam Kuutiero urged women to form cooperatives which could be used as one of the avenues for economic empowerment.

The “Together -Women and Cocoa Communities” Project, is a five-year (2022-2025) initiative which is being implemented by SOCODEVI.

It is being sponsored by Global Affairs Canada in collaboration with COCOBOD, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Department of Cooperatives, the Forestry Commission and Licensed Buying Companies, to empower women and young adults in rural cocoa-producing areas in Ashanti and Western-North Regions.