For many of the women present, the event was more than just an onboarding session. It was an opportunity to be seen, heard, and supported within a value chain where women’s contributions have often been overlooked.
The day opened with a warm welcome from Ms. Esther Twumasi, Co‑Founder and Executive Director of the Chamber of Women in Agribusiness (CHAWA). Speaking directly to the women farmers in the room, she emphasized that WIPP was created with them at the center, not as beneficiaries, but as active partners in building a stronger pineapple sector.
Her remarks reflected a shared belief that when women farmers are equipped with the right skills, support, and market access, they can significantly improve not only their own livelihoods but also those of their families and communities.
Ms. Twumasi later introduced the WIPP initiative in detail, walking participants through what the programme offers and what it expects in return. She highlighted how WIPP focuses on improving technical skills, strengthening farm management, and increasing women’s visibility within the pineapple value chain.
This introduction was followed by a session from Dr. Akwasi Adu‑Poku, Senior Project Officer at Swisscontact, who shared the broader vision of the C‑Fruit Ghana Project. He explained how the project aims to build inclusive and climate‑smart fruit value chains and how WIPP plays a key role in achieving that vision by directly supporting women‑led farms and encouraging youth participation.
For many participants, this was the first time they clearly saw how their individual farms fit into a larger national and market‑oriented effort.
One of the highlights of the day was the industry session led by Mr. Samuel Abekah, Head of Pineapple at HPW Fresh & Dry Ltd. Drawing from years of experience, he shared practical insights into what buyers look for: consistent quality, reliable supply, and adherence to production standards.
His session was made even more relatable by Ms. Eunice Dadzie, Superintendent, Fruit Buying at HPW, who spoke directly about day‑to‑day realities in sourcing pineapples. She explained how small improvements on the farm can make a big difference in meeting market requirements and building long‑term trust with buyers.
For many of the women present, these conversations helped bridge the gap between farm‑level production and market expectations.
The open forum that followed created space for honest dialogue. Women farmers asked questions about access to inputs, farm challenges, quality standards, and technical support. Others shared their experiences, both successes and struggles, creating a sense of shared learning and solidarity.
The discussion reinforced one key message: WIPP is not a one‑way intervention, but a partnership built on dialogue, commitment, and mutual accountability.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Adu‑Poku encouraged participants to take ownership of the programme and to support one another throughout the journey ahead. He stressed that knowledge alone is not enough, it must be applied consistently and supported through collaboration.
The launch of the WIPP initiative marked an important starting point. With the onboarding phase completed, the next steps will focus on finalizing beneficiary selection, rolling out training activities, and providing ongoing technical support.
By the end of the initiative, participating women will have practical skills in pineapple production and basic agribusiness management, established or improved pineapple farms using good agricultural practices, continued access to technical guidance from HPW, and stronger linkages to structured markets through HPW, positioning them to sustainably increase productivity and income.
More importantly, the event planted something deeper: confidence. Confidence among women farmers that they have a role to play, a voice to use, and a future to grow together within Ghana’s pineapple value chain.
By the end of the initiative, participating women will have practical skills in pineapple production and basic agribusiness management, established or improved pineapple farms using good agricultural practices, continued access to technical guidance from HPW technical team, and stronger linkages to structured markets through HPW, positioning them to sustainably increase productivity and income.