Women's Group Export Sheabutter To UK

Tamale (Northern Region), 10 Nov.,

The Tungteiya Sheabutter Association in the Northern Region has received 15,000 pounds as premium for sheabutter export to Body Shop of the United Kingdom. The shop buys the sheabutter from the association of women's groups in 10 villages in the region which is used as a moisturiser and for cosmetics. Madam Fati Paul Cason of the Northern-Ghana Community Action Fund which oversees the activities of the association, told the Ghana News Agency in Tamale that the Body Shop bought eleven tonnes of refined sheabutter from the association last year. It is anticipated that orders for 1997-98 will be higher. She said money from the export is being invested in various community development projects with emphasis on education, water and sanitation. Madam Paul said future uses of this money will include training of the women in functional literacy programmes, book keeping and management of small-scale enterprises. She said the export drive of the association is being facilitated by the Community Development and Social Welfare Departments as well as the Christian Mothers Association, a non-governmental organisation. The groups are also assisted by development organisations in the health, education and technical areas.