Women who are into farming and agribusiness in the Pru East Constituency in Bono East Region can now have high hopes of possible business expansion as the MP-elect Emmanuel Kwaku Boam has unveiled an ambitious vision to transform the lives of women in farming and agribusiness.
The NDC MP-elect aims to support women who are already into farming and other agribusinesses including those interested in entering the field with strategic partnerships and funding initiatives.
Emmanuel Boam tells The High Street Journal in an interview that this initiative forms part of his bigger agenda dubbed “Pru East to the World” aimed at harnessing the economic potential of the area for socio-economic development.
With the area largely endowed with agricultural resources, the MP-elect says he is calling on investors both local and international to consider Pru-East as a preferred choice for commercial farming and agribusiness investment.
Another leg of the agenda, he says is the support for women in the field of farming and agribusiness. This leg, the incoming MP says is targeted at breaking the cycle of poverty and over-dependence of women on men for survival and livelihood.
He lamented how many young girls he face financial challenges in accessing education leading to some dropping out and getting pregnant abruptly ending their socio-economic development.
“Women are very vulnerable in most of these cases in our communities. The girl child goes to school. It gets to a certain point. The parents don’t have money. And the girl stays out of school. Look at this free education thing. The girl goes to school for like a month. In three months, she’s home. She gets pregnant. Everything has been truncated unlike the cities where you even give birth and later go back to school,” he lamented.
He is convinced that creating a means of livelihood and supporting them with the necessary resources will empower these women and create a sustainable income for them.
The MP-elect says it is his vision to seek partnerships with rural banks and donors both local and foreign to provide funding support to these women.
“We are looking at ways to partner with our farmers and provide them with some funding—especially our women who are into farming. We are trying to write across the globe to get all forms of funding and support for women in agribusiness. And that, we believe, is going to impact our youth, especially the women. When we have the opportunity for them to farm and fend for themselves, that over-dependency of our ladies on men to get their survival or their livelihood becomes less,” he added.
The MP-elect’s commitment to championing women’s empowerment in the areas of farming and agribusiness has already garnered widespread support in his constituency and nationwide.
Analysts say it is a vital step toward addressing inequality and fostering economic growth. As his office works to secure funding, hopes are high that this vision will become a reality, transforming the lives of women and inspiring a brighter future for the next generation.
