Women engaged in palm oil business at Sefwi Dominibo No.2 in the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region have appealed to the government for support in the area of loan as a business set-up facility,shelter and morden equipment to enhance their business.
Currently more than 20 women involved in the palm oil production business are operating under appalling conditions that threaten their health and substance of their business.
On daily basis, these women operate under the mercy of the weather and had to suspend business anytime it rains, sometimes for days, destroying their raw materials in the process.
Bryt FM reporter Hamza Mohammed visited the production site to interact with the women as part of highlighting issues of women in the business in the area to attract the needed support from the authorities for economic empowerment and filed this report.
During the interactions, some of the women told the reporter that the heat under which the palm fruits are cooked as part of the process in getting the oil often results in health complications including dizziness, chest pains, coughing and general body weakness.
Concerning the nature of their work and production for human consumption, one would have taught that sanitation and hygiene issues would be paramount but there is no toilet facility for these women who are often joined by their children after school and had to walk a distance to access a public toilet.
The Assembly member for the area Nana Akwasi Danso Abbiam Mills explained that, women had spent many years in the business which had been a source of livelihood for them to take care of their families.
He said despite the long years, their income was nothing to write home about adding that it had been from hand to mouth.
“Water was another challenge and that they had to trek long distances to fetch water which was a basic requirement for their business” he voice out
He therefore appealed for a loan facility to boost their business and employ more women.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Hamza Mohammed
