Nyariga Community, near Bolgatanga in the
Upper East Region is estimated to earn about 80,000 dollars annually from
the sale of locally woven baskets to the United States.
The community, which engages in major production of hand- made crafts market their products to "The Blessing Basket" and "Whole Foods Market" that in turn invest the profit into development projects in the community.
This was disclosed at the inauguration of a 30,000 Ghana Cedis work centre at Nyariga, comprising a hall that has a capacity to take 170
craftsmen, two store rooms and an office.
Ms. Theresa Wilson, Founder and Executive Director of the Blessing Basket Project, USA, said she noticed the potential of the basket weaving industry in the community five years ago although there was no good reliable market for the products, whilst poverty was also rife among the people.
She therefore went into partnership with the community, to buy their baskets at a price higher than the prevailing market value for export to the USA where the Whole Food Market, took up the responsibility to retail the products.
Ms. Wilson said the two companies therefore decided to plough back the profit they made into the community.
So far, that money has given Nyariga a bore-hole, new school block for the local Junior High School and a women's club crafts centre.
A programme to return young people from the community who had gone to the South to look for work also proved successful as 16 of them were brought back and assisted to engage in basket weaving.
Ms. Wilson noted that the community had been very enthusiastic and hard working and that had helped to improve their living standards.
Madam Afaama Asariga, representative of women basket weavers narrated the difficulties they used to go through more than five years ago, trying to pay their children's school fees.
She said now she could honour her responsibilities as well as engaging in off-season farming.
"I now owe a mobile phone," she said.
Madam Asariga said many of her colleagues had invested into animal husbandry and were supporting their families.
Mr. Mark Woyongo, Regional Minister who inaugurated the centre commended the two companies for the good work they were doing for the community.
He urged the people not to be complacent but to work harder and ensure that their children enrolled in schools and stayed to pursue education.
Madam Marcia Whelan, representative of the Whole Foods Market, said all the people involved in selling the baskets in USA were happy to help the community and would continue to do so.