Kosmos Energy supports women’s group
Kosmos Energy Ghana has constructed a six-unit fish smoking facility for a women’s group in Ekpu in the Jomoro District in the Western Region as part of efforts to enhance livelihoods and build the capacity of local fish processors in its operational communities.
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The facility will ensure faster processing time, reduce smoke emissions and enable the women to work more efficiently at fish processing.
The over 130 women in the association have already been trained in a variety of areas including business management and bookkeeping; community outreach and creating sustainable partnerships; and occupational safety, hygiene and environmental management.
The focus of the intervention is to help ensure business continuity during the lean fishing season and prevent post-harvest losses during high catch season. This is the second such facility Kosmos has delivered to an operational community.
The Vice-President and Country Manager of Kosmos Energy Ghana, Mr Joe Mensah, said: “We work with our communities to find ways to create sustainable businesses that will enhance livelihoods over the long term. This project uses a combination of new facilities and training to help people run their businesses more effectively.”
This new facility in Ekpu, he said, was the latest example of Kosmos Energy working together with communities to create value and build the best foundation for sustainable businesses.
A similar facility was handed over to a 152-member women’s group in Ankobra in the Ellembele District in January 2014.
Some of the women commended the company for the support and promised to take good care of the facility which consumes less energy and processes fish faster than the traditional kilns.
In a related development, students from nine junior high schools in New Nzulezu, as well as schools in 14 neighbouring communities, now have access to a fully equipped Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facility.
The facility, which was funded, constructed, and equipped by Kosmos Energy Ghana, will serve as a training centre to prepare students for their ICT examinations. It has a business module to generate income for the upkeep of the centre.
The ICT centre has 20 computers, a server, a multi-purpose printer and a multi-media projector, among other amenities.
To ensure its sustainability, the facility will be managed by a board that comprises representatives from district education services and institutions, traditional authorities and the community. The facility will generate income by providing ancillary commercial service to the communities.
Volunteers from Kosmos Energy’s ICT department and a local ICT solutions company from the district installed the equipment. In addition, they have arranged to provide training for instructors who will be running the centre.
The New Nzulezu ICT centre is the latest example of collaboration between the company and community to address local needs. The project was the result of regular interactions between Kosmos’ representatives and their local stakeholders.
Local communities provided the land on which the facility is located. A similar ICT centre was handed over to the Nsein community in the Nzema East Municipal District in November 2012.
Mr Mensah said: “We believe in investing in Ghana’s long-term future. In a world now led by technology, it is important that children and their teachers have the tools needed to access information and promote learning. We are pleased to collaborate with the community to support this project.” — GB