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Seventy beneficiaries from three communities in the Wa Municipality, have received training in beekeeping as part of efforts to empower them economically to be able to meet their financial needs. The participants were made up of 18 women and 52 men drawn from Nyoli, Jonga and Baloofili, all in the Wa Municipality. Known as the "Honey village project", the beneficiaries were taken through topics such as hive management, honey processing, marketing of honey, as well as issues bordering on the protection of the environment. It was under the Promoting African Grassroot Economic Security (PAGES) programme, which is being spearheaded by Plan Ghana, an international child-centered non governmental organisation in collaboration with the Integrated Apiculture Environmental Protection (IAEP). In an address, the Upper West Programme Unit Manager of Plan Ghana, Mr Richard Boadu, said the PAGES project was being carried out in seven African countries, including Ghana. He said the aim was to empower the youth and parents to be able to cater for the needs of their children. He, therefore, advised beneficiaries to take the training seriously because the project was financially viable. The Project Coordinator of the IAEP, Mr Boniface Tienaah, said the project, well managed, would ensure sustainable environmental management and reduce poverty among the people. Mr Tienaah also advised the beneficiaries to go out and be worthy ambassadors so that the initiators of the project would see the need to extend it to people in other communities. the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Abu Kasangbata, stressed the commitment of government to partner private organisations such as Plan Ghana and IAEP to create jobs and improve the lives of people.He called on other institutions to emulate the example of Plan Ghana and IAEP by introducing projects which would equip the people with skills to be able to meet their financial commitments.