KIC & Mastercard Foundation Empower Women's Agribusinesses in Eastern Ghana

• Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) donated through its Women's Bootcamp program It is funded by the Mastercard Foundation  
• Agro-processing machinery was given to women-owned agribusiness organizations 

Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has made a donation of agro-processing machinery to women-owned agribusiness groups in some communities in the Eastern Region, under its flagship program, the Women's Bootcamp. 

The ceremonial donation was graced by Municipal Agricultural Directors, Traditional Leaders, and Assembly Members. The beneficiary groups, comprising young women, were trained in entrepreneurship, agro-processing, and alternative livelihoods before the funds were donated to them. The equipment will enable them to scale up their agribusinesses and increase their contribution. The donated equipment was carefully selected based on each group's processing demand, targeting the main value chains of rice, cassava, maize, and palm oil. 

In the Kwaebibirem District, a rice milling machine was donated to the Kade women's group. Twumusu received a cassava processing machine and a screw press, and a corn milling machine was donated to the Kwamang women. The Upper West Akim District also saw the donation of a palm oil digester to the Amanfrom palm oil processing group, and a cassava processing machine was donated to the Amaarkrom gari producers. 

In a statement prior to the event, Benjamin Gyan Kesse, Executive Director, KIC, stated, "We aim to empower local women entrepreneurs and generate value to the agricultural value chain. Through our partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, we aim to empower the women to increase their business, generate employment, and make a positive impact in their communities." 

Terrence Tienaah, KIC Programs Manager, stood in for the Executive Director at the ceremony and highlighted KIC's continued focus on capacity building, mentorship, and resource mobilization towards entrepreneurship development support. "The Women's Bootcamp is not training; it's creating long-term value for women agribusiness. By giving them the right tools and support, we're empowering these entrepreneurs to take their businesses to the next level." 

The women who received the equipment were full of thanks to Kosmos Innovation Center and to the Mastercard Foundation for their support. Grace Asabea, one of the Amaarkrom gari processors, said, "We are so thankful to KIC and to the Mastercard Foundation for not only training us but for following through on this kind of support." This equipment will transform our work, make us more efficient, and enable us to earn more to feed our families." Georgina Nornu, one of the rice processing groups in Kade, said, "This is a dream come true. We've worked so hard, and now we have the machinery to do even more. Thank you for trusting us." 

Through the Women's Bootcamp, KIC has built capacity for more than 12,000 young women across the country through start-up packs, skills training and input support. With sustained support from Mastercard Foundation, KIC has widened its reach in scaling even more by developing innovation while building inclusive and sustainable agri-business networks all over the country throughout Ghana. 

This project falls under KIC's overall objective to empower youth- and women-owned agribusinesses in Ghana, thus not leaving rural entrepreneurs, particularly women, out of the program to transform agriculture.