Breaking Barriers: A Woman’s Path from Countryside to Career

Born into a family of ten and the only female among her siblings, Summanbo nurtured a dream of becoming an engineer. As days passed, her dreams of breaking the cycle of poverty in her family seemed to narrow as she faced many challenges, including nearly dropping out of school due to financial constraints when after senior high school, she had no means to pursue tertiary education. She gave up on her dream and succumbed to family pressure to marry.  After having her first child, Summanbo decided to go back to school. She therefore began doing menial jobs to earn an income to be able to self-finance her education.  She enrolled at the Dr. Hilla Limann Technical University to pursue a degree in agricultural engineering. 

“When I completed senior high school, I was confused and frustrated because I wanted to go to university, but I could not afford it. I had to finally marry because there was pressure on me to marry,” she recalls. 

With perseverance, she bagged a degree in agricultural engineering. Realizing she needed to improve her knowledge and skills to take advantage of future opportunities, she kept searching for ways to enhance her skill set. However, financial constraints and family responsibilities, including caring for her two children and supporting her family, weighed heavily on Summanbo. She lost hope.

However, a glimmer of hope appeared when she saw a flyer from the World Food Programme (WFP) inviting young people to a postharvest and mechanization training at Wenchi Agricultural College. Seizing the opportunity, Summanbo became the only female participant from the Upper West Region in the training. She did not take it for granted, knowing what it meant for her future. 

“When I saw the flyer from the World Food Programme, I quickly applied and was shortlisted for the training. At the training, I learned how to operate, service, and maintain machines like tractors, millers, threshers, and conveyors. With these new skills, I knew the future was now much closer and brighter than before,” she explains. 

The World Food Programme (WFP) harnesses opportunities within the agricultural value chain to provide young people like Summanbo with sustainable livelihoods. It also helps agro-food processors in Northern Ghana expand their capacities by engaging more skilled young workers, thereby tackling hunger and unemployment. One such WFP-supported facility is Song Ta Tie Ta Food Processing Limited in the Upper West Region, where an upgrade created the need for additional workers.

Summanbo narrates how WFP provided the platform for her to achieve her dream at Song Ta Tie Ta as an engineer: 

“After the training, the World Food Programme has not abandoned us. They are always checking on us to see how we are taking advantage of opportunities and giving us guidance. Fortunately for me, WFP connected me to Song Ta Tie Ta Food Processing Limited where I have now gained employment as an engineer.” 

With her long-held dream of becoming an engineer realized through her employment at Song Ta Tie Ta, Summanbo’s life has improved significantly. She now earns an income, meets her daily needs, and supports her children’s education and nutrition. 

“I am so happy now because I help to process food that feeds people, and I am paid for my work. Now I buy the things I need on my own and take care of my children’s education and provide them with healthy food so they can be healthy,” she says.