On her first official trip in Ghana, U.S.
Ambassador, Virginia Palmer who visited Tamale and Northern Region has
reaffirmed her commitment to development in Ghana's North.
According to her, Northern Ghana is an absolute priority for the United States,
which is why she chose to visit the region on her first official trip.
Accompanied by USAID Ghana Mission Director Kimberly Rosen, she met with peace
and security, economic empowerment, public health, media, and development
partners during the two-day trip.
From the young people, entrepreneurs, farmers, and civil society and
traditional leaders I’ve met, it’s clear this region holds incredible
potential. I am already thinking about my next trip back,” said U.S.
Ambassador Virginia Palmer.
The Ambassador met Northern Regional Minister and Chairman of the Regional
Security Council Honorable Shani Alhassan Shaibu. They discussed U.S.
Government support for economic and human development in the region and
community-based efforts to detect and prevent violent extremism.
During a visit to the Nuts For Growth shea processing plant, Ambassador Palmer
helped launch the Global Shea Alliance and MasterCard Foundation’s Shea
Business Empowerment Program.
The program will work with local shea collectors to transform their informal
operations into well-structured small businesses and cooperatives that can more
readily achieve economies of scale to participate in the global market for
shea.
Nuts For Growth is also a recipient of a $980,000 grant from the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID) to catalyze private investment and
expand incomes of 20,000 women farmers in the region.
Later, meeting with representatives of the USAID Women in Agriculture Platform,
Ambassador Palmer heard about their concerns and challenges with land tenure,
water management, and, most recently, fertilizer scarcity.
Ambassador Palmer was the keynote speaker at the USAID Wiring Artisans program
graduation for 44 newly trained electrical wiring professionals.
The program focused on teaching professional electrician skills to local
residents, including ten women. These trained professionals will now
enter the local job market with more marketable skills.
The Ambassador appreciated the contributions they would make to Ghana’s
economic development and celebrated the near doubling of women in the field.
She also met with local alumni of the Mandela Washington Fellowship and other
U.S. Government exchange programs. Before departing Tamale, Ambassador Palmer
met with Hajia Dr. Kansanwurche Azara Bukari, President of the Savannah Region
Queen Mothers Association to discuss the critical role of traditional
leaders in Ghana.
Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline