Tarikom: The Meta Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has distributed 20 weaving machines and accessories to refugees, asylum seekers, and members of host communities in Tarikom and Sapeliga in the Bawku West District. The initiative aims to empower these individuals with skills and income-generating opportunities, enabling them to lead dignified lives.
According to Ghana News Agency, the distribution is part of the 'Improving Economic Resilience of Host Communities for Peacebuilding in Northern Ghana' project. This project seeks to enhance economic livelihoods and foster peaceful coexistence between refugees and their host communities. It is funded by the Department of State of the United States of America through the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the UNDP.
The weaving machines distribution is one of several livelihood initiatives under the project designed to enhance economic resilience and promote peaceful coexistence among refugees, asylum seekers, and host communities in northern Ghana. The beneficiaries, primarily women and youth, are expected to use the machines to start income-generating ventures, improving their living standards and reducing dependency.
The project also provides training in phone repairs, milk and shea processing, and rice processing. Additionally, it empowers beneficiaries to engage in dry-season vegetable farming, detergent production, small ruminant rearing, dressmaking, and introduces savings mobilisation for women's groups in the Bawku West District.
Ms Ernestina Avariko, Communications Officer and Project Lead of the Meta Foundation, expressed hope that the initiative would empower beneficiaries to become self-reliant and contribute to community development. 'The aim is to empower the refugees and members of host communities to earn a decent income and live in harmony while contributing to peacebuilding efforts in the area,' she stated.
Some beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the initiative, describing it as a life-changing opportunity. 'With this machine, I can start my own weaving business and take care of my children,' said Ms Faustina Ayindana, a beneficiary from Tarikom.
Due to insurgencies in the Sahelian region, many vulnerable individuals, particularly from Burkina Faso, have migrated into Ghana, spreading across districts in the Upper East region. The government of Ghana, in collaboration with UNHCR, a UN Agency for Refugees, has established a reception and rehabilitation centre at Tarikom, currently housing over 2,000 asylum seekers, while others continue to stay with local communities.
