Plan International Ghana hands over women-friendly solar hub to boost women’s economic empowerment in Voggu

Plan International Ghana has officially handed over a Women-Friendly Solar Hub at Voggu in the Kumbungu District of the Northern Region to Urbanet Ghana, a local implementing partner, to promote women's economic empowerment and sustain access to business development services.

The facility, established under the Women's Innovation for Sustainable Enterprises (WISE) Project, is expected to serve as a one-stop centre where women entrepreneurs can access business development services, market information, digital platforms and referral support to strengthen and expand their businesses.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Country Director of Plan International Ghana, Muniratu Issifu, said the facility represented a significant investment in addressing barriers that prevent women, particularly those in rural communities, from fully participating in economic activities.

She explained that the WISE Project, implemented between January 2020 and March 2025 across 150 communities in five districts, aimed to improve women's access to information, financial and business services, networks and opportunities to build sustainable livelihoods.

According to her, the project's endline assessment recorded an 11.2 per cent increase in the Women and Girls Empowerment Index, while the likelihood of participating households living below the poverty line decreased by 10.5 per cent.

Madam Issifu said the Voggu facility was one of three women-friendly solar hubs established under the project, stressing that its long-term impact would depend on how effectively the community utilised and maintained it.

She therefore called on traditional authorities, community representatives and women entrepreneurs to take collective ownership of the facility to ensure its sustainability and continued benefits to women and young people.

Traditional Authorities Welcome Initiative

The Paramount Chief of the Voggu Traditional Area, Naa Sulemana Saaka, said the intervention would benefit not only Voggu but also adjoining communities, including Tolon.

He noted that empowering women through such initiatives would ease the economic pressure on households, considering their central role in managing homes and supporting families.

Beneficiaries Urged to Maximise Facility

The Executive Director of Urbanet Ghana, Basit Jibreel, urged beneficiaries and community opinion leaders to make effective use of the facility and ensure that it serves its intended purpose.

A community-based volunteer, Illiasu Nafisah, said women in Voggu previously had to travel to other communities to process their maize, soybeans and other agricultural produce, a situation she described as challenging and time-consuming.

She expressed optimism that having access to processing machines within their community would improve productivity, reduce the burden on women and create opportunities for increased economic activities.

She also expressed appreciation to Plan International Ghana and its partners for the intervention.

Background

The hub was initially commissioned on November 10, 2022, by the then Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen.

The WISE Project was implemented by Plan International Ghana in partnership with Plan International Canada, WIDO and Urbanet, with funding support from Global Affairs Canada under the Innovation for Women's Economic Empowerment in Ghana initiative.

The handover to Urbanet Ghana is expected to strengthen local ownership and ensure the continued delivery of business development support to women entrepreneurs in Voggu and other participating communities in the Kumbungu District.