In Tamale, the Greater Rural Opportunities for Women 2 (GROW 2) project wrapped up this week after five years of Canadian funding and local implementation. The $25 million initiative, led by Mennonite Economic Development Associates, aimed to overcome climate and market barriers for women smallholder farmers in the Northern, Upper West, and Savannah regions.
Mayor of Tamale Abu Takoro, speaking on behalf of Northern Regional Minister Adolf John Ali, lauded the project as a model for inclusive growth. “There is no doubt that the GROW 2 project served as an inclusive finance and investment opportunity in Northern Ghana and as a strategy aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs and improving their socio-economic standing and the general growth of the agricultural sector,” he said.
Key achievements highlighted at the close‑out ceremony included 35 mechanised solar‑powered irrigation boreholes for dry‑season vegetable production, expanded access to finance for more than 3,000 women in Savings and Loans Groups, provision of improved seeds and processing equipment, and financing for motorised tricycles to transport produce to market. The infrastructure spans 11 districts across the region.
Mr Takoro noted the project complements Ghana’s flagship programmes such as Feed Ghana, Feed the Industry, and Agriculture Investment and Infrastructure, all aimed at boosting productivity and creating jobs.
He thanked Canada for its commitment to women’s empowerment and economic development in the area. As the project ends, officials urged savings groups, MSMEs, community leaders and private partners to keep the networks and systems alive, stressing that development is a continuous journey.
