More than 200 women working within the agribusiness value chain in the Bono region have received practical training to strengthen their digital and financial skills, as part of a two-day workshop organised by the Telecel Ghana Foundation.
Held at the Tyco City Hotel in the region’s capital Sunyani, the workshop sought to equip women in agribusiness, from growers and processors to market traders and retailers, with hands-on tools to improve their businesses, increase financial discipline and leverage mobile technology for transactions.
The digital literacy sessions focused on helping the agribusiness owners understand how to use social media platforms to market their produce, increase their businesses’ online visibility, and attract new customers beyond their immediate localities. Participants were introduced to creating business pages on social media and practical strategies for engaging consumers online, with the goal of unlocking income streams for their trade.
On the financial side, the women were coached on savings, budgeting, investment options and the use of Telecel Cash for safer, more efficient transactions. The facilitator emphasised how digital finance tools could help participants track income, reduce risks associated with cash handling, and build resilience against economic shocks.
For many of the participants, the workshop offered a tangible step towards improving their operations. “I usually sell my Tom Brown powder, salt and livestock only at the Wenchi market. Now I know how to use Facebook and WhatsApp to show people what I have and take orders anytime, without waiting for market days to make sales. I believe these strategies will help me reach more customers and earn more income,” said Eunice Pubebekuu, founder of a food processing and livestock farm of three years.
Across Ghana, women dominate the informal agribusiness sector, producing food, transporting goods to markets, and powering rural economies. Yet, limited access to digital tools and financial knowledge has long restricted their ability to scale up or cushion their business against shocks.
Explaining the rationale for the training, Rita Agyeiwaa Rockson, Head of Foundation, Sustainability and External Communications at Telecel Ghana, said: “The Bono region is a major food basket for the country, with a significant population in the agribusiness value chain being women who play a critical role in sustaining it. We believe that by combining financial literacy with digital skills, we are empowering female peasant farmers and traders to access wider markets and ultimately improve their livelihoods.”
Organised in collaboration of Wan-Hive Ghana, a community of female entrepreneurs in the region, the training benefitted women from far-flung towns and villages across the Bono region. The workshop forms part of Telecel Ghana Foundation’s wider commitment to advancing financial inclusion and digital participation among women and underserved populations, particularly in sectors such as agriculture that remain vital to Ghana’s economy.
At the end of the training, each participant received free Telecel SIM cards with a combined package of data, voice and SMS to support the women in applying the new digital and financial skills to their agribusinesses in earnest.
