Gane: It is often said that 'man must not live by bread alone,' yet, in the harshest of circumstances, a person will go to great lengths to secure even the most basic need. For 46-year-old Madam Kugre Yenbila, her daily pursuit of survival involves more than just putting food on the table. It is a struggle that requires resilience, determination and a will to keep pushing forward for the sake of her five children.
According to Ghana News Agency, Madam Yenbila resides in the Gane community of the Nabdam District in the Upper East Region. Widowed five years ago, she found herself faced with an unimaginable burden: to care for and provide for her five children without the help of a husband or partner. Her story is quite a strong one, and the harsh reality many women like her face in rural Ghana. In such places resources are limited, opportunities are scarce and survival is an ongoing battle.
Before the tragic loss of her husband, Kugre's life, though challenging, had a pulse. Her husband, a hardworking farmer, was the breadwinner of the family, while she played a vital role in ensuring their household ran smoothly with her shea butter business. The sudden loss of her spouse left Kugre devastated, and the burden of caring for five children, each with their own needs, dreams and aspirations was not only overwhelming but ripped off the capital of her business.
Madam Yenbila narrated her ordeal to the Ghana News Agency in an interview. Without support to continue her shea butter processing business, Kugre turned to the forest and mastered the craft of climbing trees for support. Firewood became her lifeline. She began collecting firewood from the surrounding forests, bundling it and selling it in local markets to put food on the table daily.
She indicated that given financial support, she would revive her shea butter business to support her children's education. Madam Kugre's story is not different from Sampampoka Zoya, a 52-year-old mother of three from the Zanlerigu community, also in the Nabdam District who crack stones to cater for her family as she is also without a husband.
According to her, it is very challenging for women, particularly those of them in the informal sector without any handwork. She emphasized that given the needed support, she would venture into the sale of foodstuff to support her children education. The physical labour of cutting, gathering and transporting firewood from remote areas is demanding and digging and cracking stones often requiring hours of effort in the heat of the day could be overwhelming, but for Kugre and Sampampoka, it is the means to earn a living.
Madam Beatrice Saa, the President of the Widows' Network in the Upper East Region bemoaned that access to land for farming or financial support for trading remained a big challenge particularly for widows. The Ghana Statistical Service affirmed in its 2024 multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report that the Nabdam District has the highest rate of multidimensional poverty among all 261 districts in Ghana, with a rate of 68.6 percent.
In rural communities like Gane, where jobs and financial security are often tied to farming, the absence of a male figure in the household means the woman must step into a role that is not just emotionally demanding but also physically and financially taxing. Though the Women's Bank is a vital initiative to alleviate poverty and empower women financially to cater to their families, its intended purpose would be much appreciated if rural women, particularly those in the informal sector, were given priority.
