Widows in Wa West to benefit from sustainable income drive backed by diaspora support
A Ghanaian-American academic and philanthropist, Professor Joseph Ofori-Dankwa, has announced plans to support ongoing efforts to address the economic and social challenges confronting widows in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region.
Professor Ofori-Dankwa, the Wickes Endowed Professor of International Business at the Scott L. Carmona College of Business, Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan, United States, made this known during an engagement with about 200 members of the Widows Association in the Sanuori Electoral Area.
The initiative, however, is part of a long-standing intervention spearheaded by Professor Bernard Obeng Acquah, Dean of the GIMPA Business School, who has been organising and supporting widows’ groups in communities such as Oda for several years.
Professor Ofori-Dankwa’s visit is therefore aimed at partnering with and learning from the model established by Professor Acquah, while exploring ways to extend similar support to widows in Wa West.
The meeting, held in the Sanuori community, offered the widows an opportunity to share their experiences, challenges and expectations, giving Professor Ofori-Dankwa first-hand insight into their daily struggles.
He explained that the visit was deliberately structured around direct engagement, stressing that meaningful and sustainable solutions must be informed by the lived experiences of the widows. He expressed optimism that targeted interventions, particularly in income generation, could significantly improve their livelihoods.
Plans outlined during the engagement include providing resources to enable widows to establish or expand small-scale businesses, with the aim of promoting self-reliance and reducing long-term vulnerability.
Professor Acquah, who has led similar initiatives in Oda, reiterated his commitment to expanding support systems for widows, noting that the collaboration with Professor Ofori-Dankwa would help deepen the impact of the programme.
During the interaction, members of the Widows Association highlighted persistent challenges, including limited access to farming inputs and acute water shortages, which continue to affect their livelihoods. Professor Ofori-Dankwa acknowledged these concerns, observing that poverty in such households often drives children of widows into illegal mining activities, locally known as galamsey, in search of income, exposing them and the environment to significant risks.
As part of measures to enhance economic resilience, the Widows Association plans to serve as a platform for sharing improved farming and processing techniques to boost productivity. Key focus areas include enhanced support for shea nut collection and improved shea butter processing methods.
Protective equipment such as boots and gloves will also be provided to minimise risks associated with shea nut harvesting, including snake bites and dog attacks. Additionally, the association intends to organise collective harvesting to strengthen bargaining power and secure better market prices.
These interventions are expected to not only increase incomes but also foster unity and mutual support among the widows.
The Wa West District Assemblyman, Claudius Dare Kuuyor, welcomed the initiative and encouraged the widows to embrace the engagement as a positive development for the community.
He urged them to remain patient, noting that although the benefits might not be immediate, the intervention would yield lasting impact over time, likening it to the care and guidance of a father figure within the community.
