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More than 3500 women in the country have benefitted from the business skills development training programme being implemented by the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana aimed at empowering female traders to become successful entrepreneurs.

The programme, which started in 2012, is part of the Coca-Cola Company’s global project dubbed “5BY20 Initiative” that is aimed at empowering five million women by 2010.

In Ghana, the project, which has also targeted to train an additional 1,500 women this year, has benefitted female traders in various sectors of the economy.

Isaac Augustus Antwi, Public Affairs and Communications Director of Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana, briefing journalist at one of the training sessions for about 100 women at Tema at the weekend, said the project has recorded some successful outcomes. He cited cases in which beneficiaries have been able to use the knowledge gained from the training to expand their business.

“If for nothing at all these women have gained knowledge they can apply in any business field,” he stressed.

According to Mr. Antwi, the training modules take into consideration the need to break down potential economic and social barriers for women entrepreneurs, adding that the initiative provides business skills training, access to financial assets and services and linkages to networks of peers and mentors.

“The project is on track in Ghana,” he said, indicating that the only criteria required was for one to show interest in the training irrespective of whether a prospective beneficiary deals in Coca-Cola products or not.

He explained the project was also focusing on dealing with women cooperatives such as female trading groups, farming associations as well as widowhood groups to address their specific entrepreneurial needs to help ensure their sustainable livelihoods.

In addition, he said beneficiaries who show interest in selling the company’s product were provided business start-up packages consisting of Coca-Cola products and selling containers to enable them start trading.