A proposal for the establishment of the Navrongo Trade Hub (NATH), aimed at transforming women’s economic activities through value addition, market access and sustainable enterprise development, has been presented at the Navrongo FAO Development Dialogue 2026.
The proposal, delivered on behalf of Lawyer Anatu Seidu Bogobiri, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), calls for the establishment of a centralised trade and processing hub in Navrongo to help women in the Kassena-Nankana area maximise the economic value of their agricultural produce, traditional crafts and other locally available resources.
The proposal was presented under the theme, “Celebrating Culture, Driving Development: Harnessing Local Resources and Talent for Sustainable Development.”
In her message to the gathering, Lawyer Bogobiri expressed her warm regards and apologised for her inability to attend the programme in person, reaffirming her commitment to the development of the people of Kassena-Nankana.
She argued that the economic challenges facing many women in the area were not necessarily a result of a lack of hard work, talent or determination, but rather their limited access to markets and their position at the lower end of production and supply chains.
Using the shea industry as an example, the message highlighted how women collect and sell shea nuts at relatively low prices, while much of the processing, branding, packaging and marketing takes place elsewhere, allowing others to capture a greater share of the final product’s value.
“She picked it. She will never own it. And she cannot afford to buy it,” the message stated, illustrating the gap between the labour women contribute and the economic benefits they receive.
According to the proposal, the establishment of NATH would help address this imbalance by moving women from supplying raw materials to participating in processing, manufacturing, branding and marketing.
NATH: A One-Stop Centre for Production and Marketing
The proposed Navrongo Trade Hub is envisaged as a strategically located physical facility where women and women’s groups can produce, process, package, brand and sell their products under an organised system.
The hub would replace fragmented individual interventions with a cooperative-based structure designed to promote shared infrastructure, consistent product standards, market access and business continuity.
It would also provide a central point where traders, exporters and companies could engage directly with organised groups of producers, inspect products, place orders and negotiate supply contracts.
The initiative would initially focus on three sectors in which women in the area already possess considerable experience and potential: shea processing, commercial vegetable farming and smock weaving.
Shea Processing: From Raw Nuts to Finished Products
The first component of the proposal is the establishment of a shea processing park within the hub, equipped with modern crushing, roasting and extraction machinery.
The facility would operate as a common-user centre, allowing registered women and their groups to access industrial processing equipment rather than depending on individually owned machines.
Beyond shea butter production, the initiative seeks to facilitate the manufacture of finished products, including soaps, creams, lotions and oils, in Navrongo.
The proposal also calls for strategic investors to partner with women in developing commercially viable enterprises rather than limiting their involvement to purchasing raw shea nuts.
The message noted that Ghana’s drive to promote local processing and value addition creates an opportunity for Navrongo to position itself as an important centre for shea-based manufacturing in northern Ghana.
It urged local stakeholders to align the initiative with national industrialisation priorities by retaining more of the value generated from locally sourced resources within the community.
Vegetable Farming: Addressing the Market Challenge
The second component focuses on commercial vegetable production, particularly by women farmers who could benefit from the Tono Irrigation Scheme.
The proposal identified the availability of reliable markets as a major challenge that has discouraged farmers from cultivating vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, pepper, cabbage and garden eggs.
Although the Tono Irrigation Scheme provides significant irrigation potential, the message observed that farmers have often concentrated on rice production because of uncertainty surrounding the marketing of alternative crops.
It argued that previous interventions have frequently focused on distributing seeds, equipment and training without adequately addressing the question of who would buy the resulting produce.
Under NATH, registered women and women’s groups would be organised into supply blocks, with off-taker agreements secured before planting begins.
The hub would also facilitate access to improved seeds, farm inputs and agricultural extension services through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and development partners.
Additional support would include subsidised access to tractors, power tillers, water pumps and other mechanisation services, alongside year-round irrigation opportunities through the Tono Irrigation Scheme and community gardens.
The proposal further appealed to traditional authorities to help challenge cultural beliefs that discourage women from cultivating certain crops.
“There is no crop that knows the gender of the hand that plants it. The soil only knows hard work. Farming must not be genderised,” the message emphasised.
It maintained that changing such attitudes, alongside improving market access, would create opportunities for women to expand their agricultural activities and increase household incomes.
Smock Weaving: Turning Cultural Heritage into an Industry
The third pillar of the proposal centres on smock weaving, locally known as Fugu, which the message described as an important expression of cultural identity with significant commercial potential.
The proposal seeks to bring women involved in the Fugu value chain under a cooperative structure that would strengthen their collective bargaining power and improve the consistency of their products.
Through NATH, registered women and groups would be supported to access modern looms and improved weaving equipment, as well as training in contemporary weaving technology and quality finishing.
A common finishing and branding centre would also be established to ensure that smocks produced in Navrongo meet consistent quality requirements and are better positioned for national and international markets.
The initiative envisages a system in which buyers could place bulk orders for smocks of uniform quality, delivered within agreed timelines and marketed under a common brand.
The message argued that such an approach would help transform the area’s cultural heritage into a stronger, organised and competitive industry.
Proposed Facilities and Unified Marketing Platform
To support the activities of the hub, the proposal outlines several essential facilities, including warehouses and storage units, a packaging and labelling centre, an exhibition and retail shop, washrooms, and a meeting and training hall.
A crèche for nursing mothers is also proposed to enable women with young children to participate more conveniently in productive and commercial activities.
Across the three priority sectors, products would be marketed through a unified platform using both digital and traditional channels to reach consumers and buyers within Ghana and beyond.
The proposal argues that a common marketing system would reduce competition among fragmented sellers, strengthen the identity of Navrongo-made products and improve the ability of women to negotiate better prices.
Accountability and Sustainability at the Centre of the Proposal
Acknowledging concerns about the sustainability of cooperative initiatives, the message outlined four measures intended to distinguish NATH from previous interventions.
First, the hub would prioritise shared assets, such as processing facilities, finishing centres and common branding infrastructure, that could serve multiple registered members over time.
Second, market arrangements would be prioritised before production, with off-taker agreements secured before farmers plant crops and producers undertake major orders.
Third, a unified brand would enable women to negotiate collectively rather than operate as isolated sellers with limited bargaining power.
Finally, the hub would be expected to maintain transparent financial records, publish its accounts and report annually to the community.
The message stressed that these measures would be essential to building public confidence, promoting responsible management and ensuring that the initiative remains functional beyond its initial establishment.
Stakeholders Urged to Support the Initiative
The proposal outlined specific requests to key stakeholders to facilitate the establishment of NATH.
The Municipal Chief Executive and the Municipal Assembly were asked to designate a suitable site for the facility and incorporate the initiative into the Assembly’s medium-term development plan and budget.
The Navro-Pio and the Traditional Council were urged to make suitable land available for the project to support the economic advancement of women in the area.
The FAO Dialogue Planning Committee and development partners were asked to support the development of a comprehensive feasibility study and business plan, as well as the procurement of the first phase of shared processing equipment.
Private-sector actors and strategic investors were encouraged to partner with women to develop commercially viable enterprises, while women interested in the initiative were urged to register, organise themselves and commit to agreed production and quality standards.
The message also called for the immediate formation of a small working committee, with a clearly defined reporting deadline, to translate the proposal into an actionable development initiative.
It maintained that the formation of such a committee would help ensure that the discussions and commitments made at the dialogue lead to practical outcomes.
Expected Benefits for Women and the Local Economy
If implemented effectively, the proposed Navrongo Trade Hub is expected to create employment opportunities, strengthen women’s enterprises, improve household incomes, develop market-oriented skills among young people and expand the export potential of locally produced goods.
The initiative could also help retain more economic value within the Kassena-Nankana area by encouraging local processing and manufacturing instead of relying primarily on the sale of raw agricultural produce.
In concluding the message, Lawyer Bogobiri reiterated that the women of Kassena-Nankana were not seeking charity but opportunities to participate more meaningfully in the economic value chains they already support through their labour and expertise.
“The woman of Kassena-Nankana is not asking for charity. She has never asked for charity. She is asking for positioning, for the part of the chain where the value is made,” the message stated.
The proposal called on traditional authorities, local government officials, development partners, investors and community members to work together to turn the Navrongo Trade Hub into a practical platform for women’s economic empowerment and sustainable local development.
It concluded with a call for collective commitment to investing in women, harnessing local resources and transforming the cultural and economic strengths of Navrongo into lasting opportunities for future generations.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com