Juliana Asante-Dartey
Agri-Impact Limited, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, marked International Women’s Day 2025 with a significant event at the Aglow Processing Factory.
This year’s theme, “Accelerating inclusion of young women and persons with disabilities to drive innovation and a thriving agribusiness sector,” reflected the organization’s commitment to empowering women and fostering sustainable development.
Deputy CEO of Agri-Impact, Juliana Asante-Dartey, emphasized the crucial role women play in the advancement of the nation.
She said through the Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for Youth (HAPPY) Program launched in December 2023, dignified jobs has been created for Ghanaian youth within four years.
The initiative focuses on enhancing productivity in four key agricultural value chains: rice, soybean, poultry, and tomatoes. Since its inception, the program has successfully created job opportunities for over 138,000 youth in just 15 months.
Madam Asante-Dartey encouraged women and female students’ to consider careers in agribusiness, noting that the sector offers vast potential for growth and innovation.
Board Member of Agri Impact Group Limited and Senior Development Officer, University of Ghana, Maamie Nyamekye Nortey, said the HAPPY programme has been instrumental in incorporating persons with disabilities into the agribusiness value chain.
“We’ve learned that some individuals with hearing impairments have demonstrated exceptional abilities, learning to operate complex machinery in a remarkably short period. This experience has taught us that persons with disabilities can be valuable assets to any organization, bringing focus, intentionality, and innovation to the table,” she said.
She urged other organizations to follow suit, providing opportunities for persons with disabilities to contribute to their ecosystems, stating that by doing so, ‘we can create a more inclusive and diverse society, where everyone has a voice and a chance to thrive’.
“As we empower young women and persons with disabilities, we’re not only promoting their growth but also enriching our society as a whole,” she said.
Caption: A group photograph of participants at Agri-Impact, Mastercard Foundation, International Women’s Day celebration
By Prince Fiifi Yorke