The women, under the auspices of the Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA), a civil society organisation, currently operates an agro-processing centre in Bolgatanga to add value to agricultural products.

The well-equipped processing centre currently benefits over 600 rural women who produce groundnut paste, groundnut oil, soya oil, soya khebab, and soya milk, and has the potential to generate over GH¢9 million in profit monthly for the
women.

They appealed to the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly to prioritise and support their agro-processing initiative as part of efforts to empower women and youth for sustainable livelihoods and poverty reduction.

Speaking in Bolgatanga during a courtesy call on Mr Roland Atanga Ayoo, the Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), the women appealed to the government to include them in the operationalisation of the 24-hour economy policy.

Madam Barikisu Sulley, Chairperson of the Northern Savannah Women Enterprise, noted that the women had received training from the Food Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-FRI) to produce high-quality products that met both domestic and international market demands.

She said if the women were supported with the needed certification and space to operate fully, it would empower them and the youth in the area, create jobs, and enhance their livelihoods.

Mr Bismark Adongo Ayorogo, the Executive Director of NORPRA, emphasized that the initiative aligned strongly with the government's proposed 24-hour economy policy, which sought to provide support for strategic agro-processing and manufacturing firms to increase production, promote value addition, and enhance exports.

"We are more than excited about the 24-hour economy policy because it presents an opportunity for our women's group to expand production and run continuous operations to create more jobs, reduce poverty, and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals," he said.

He, however, noted that the processing centre currently faced a major limitation due to lack of adequate space to scale up operations and secure proper certifications.

He appealed to the Assembly to consider including the centre in its priority projects in its Medium-Term Development Plan and to facilitate access to the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Fund to support the facility's expansion.

Citing NORPRA's business plan, Mr Ayorogo stated that the centre had the potential to generate over GH¢9 million in monthly profit for the women involved in its operations, if it received the right investment and market support.

He also called for the inclusion of the centre's products in public procurement schemes such as the School Feeding Programme, second-cycle schools, and government hospitals to sustain demand and support local industry growth.
He commended the MCE for his strong leadership, particularly his advocacy for improved sanitation in the municipality, and invited him to visit the centre to witness the industrial operations first-hand.

On his part, the MCE expressed the commitment of the Assembly to supporting businesses to thrive, adding that "luckily, we are in the process of developing our Medium-Term Development Plan, so we may include you in the planning process so you can make a presentation for better appreciation."

He underscored the need to upgrade infrastructure and the local economy to operationalise the government's 24-hour economy policy and appealed for stakeholder support to achieve sustainable development.