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Empowerment Beyond Micro-Finance

Two of Benjamin Ameyaw’s workers have the painstaking job of removing kernels of corn by hand

In the village of Techiman, Ghana, Benjamin Ameyaw and his wife, Anna, are models of success for GBA’s micro-finance program. Anna works as a seamstress, running a small dress shop which provides a good income for her family by custom tailoring traditional Ghanaian clothing for parties and celebrations. It is fortunate for the Ameyaw family that Anna’s business is running well, because work for Benjamin has become very difficult.

You see, Benjamin has a similar problem to that of many farmers in his region — farmers are at the mercy of the purchasing market when it is finally time to harvest their crops.

Many GBA loan clients in rural areas of Ghana are involved in farming. Most farmers have small plots of land and do their best to not only plant but then harvest their crops with the help of family and friends — all done by hand. If farmers are fortunate and the weather cooperates, three growing seasons are possible in Ghana.

Many of these agricultural clients, unable to afford the price of the initial seed needed for planting, use their one hundred dollar micro-finance loans for this purchase. Provided the seasonal harvest is good, an average-sized family plot can expect a yield of approximately five or six large gunny sacks of corn kernels. These sacks, sold at the market immediately following harvest, may bring in twenty dollars per bag – a price almost four times lower than what could have been realized had the corn been sold at a later date, out of season.

So, while farmers work diligently to both grow and harvest their produce, many barely afford to repay their loans to GBA upon the sale of their yield. Most are discouraged that despite their hard work, they remain on poverty’s doorstep — one failed crop away from disaster.

Going Beyond Micro-Finance Assistance in Ghana

Anna Ameyaw and two of her employees in Anna’s dress shop in Techiman, Ghana

For this reason, GBA is looking for creative solutions to supplement the hard work of our agricultural clients, in the hope of paying them even bigger dividends. One option being considered is the creation of a loan client co-op. This cooperative would build several small storage facilities for crops such as corn and soybean.

With these facilities in place, produce could be either purchased from the farmer at a higher than market price at the time of harvest, or they could be stored on credit for the client to be sold at a later date for a much higher price when the overabundance of product has disappeared from the market.

Another idea entails helping farmers transport their agricultural goods to more favorable markets, where the prices for their crops are considerably higher.

Both of these options require expertise and financing. Maybe you have relationships in the U.S. farming community and could help GBA with the structure and design of just such a co-op in Ghana? Or maybe, while not an expert in agriculture, you recognize the extreme need for these programs and can help us with funding?

In either case, GBA needs your involvement as one of our (Ad)Venture Capitalists. Please help us empower not only Benjamin Ameyaw, but the dozens of GBA loan clients like him in desperate need of this capacity building assistance.

If you haven’t to date partnered with GBA financially, please consider investing your resources in our efforts this month. Our work in Ghana is paying big dividends. And now, more than ever, we need your assistance as we attempt to accomplish big tasks!

In gratitude,

Douglas Mann

President, GBA

GBA is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation based on section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code. Gifts are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law and contributions are solicited with the understanding that Global Business Assist has authorization for the distribution of al donated funds. Donations to gba programs represent a contribution to the entire global mission of gba, including micro-lending, business training, community development and technical assistance. Donations will be used where needed to help the world’s poor help themselves.