“It Has Helped Me a Lot”: Comfort’s Growing Confidence in Kwame Ntow
“My name is Comfort Kwakye, and I live in Kwame Ntow. I am a member of the PEACE VSLA, and our response is ASOMDWOE (“peace”). It has been three years since I joined this group, and I am very grateful for the impact it has had on my life.”
For Comfort, the past three years have been defined not only by participation in a savings group, but by personal initiative and a willingness to apply new ideas in practical ways.
Seeing Possibilities Differently
“Even though we live in a village, we were ignorant of the fact that we could grow vegetables and sell them for additional income,” she explains. “Before the trainings, we used to buy items such as meat, tomatoes, and pepper.”
Through the sessions she attended, Comfort began to rethink what was possible within her own environment. “I learned that I could grow pepper and garden eggs, even in small quantities, to earn some extra income. This has helped me a lot.”
What changed was not her location, but her perspective. By experimenting with small-scale cultivation, she began generating additional income from what had previously been overlooked resources.
Taking Calculated Risks
When the VSLA began, Comfort made a deliberate choice to use the opportunity strategically. “When we started the VSLA, I took a small loan and used it to start a bread business,” she says. The business performed well, and she repaid the loan in full.
Rather than stopping there, she reinvested. “I later applied for another loan, which I used to buy a small deep freezer for selling ice cream, yogurt, and other items.”
She is currently repaying this second loan and is confident about meeting her timeline. “I strongly believe that I will complete the repayment before the three-month loan period ends,” she notes. Looking ahead, she is already planning her next step. “Even before the share-out, I plan to take another loan to further invest in the ice cream business so that I can achieve my set goals.”
Her progress reflects a pattern of careful borrowing, disciplined repayment, and reinvestment — decisions she continues to make herself.
Learning to Track What Matters
Another turning point for Comfort was understanding the value of record-keeping.
“Initially, when I ordered bread from my suppliers, I never kept records,” she admits. “I did not record transportation costs, trekking, or even food expenses.”
Over time, she recognized the implications. “After the training, I realized that all these costs should be recorded and deducted from my sales so that I can know my true profit.”
This shift has strengthened her business practices. “The lessons opened my eyes to the importance of proper records and helped me avoid impulse purchases,” she explains. With clearer insight into her expenses and margins, she now manages her enterprise with greater confidence and control.
Growth Through Participation and Personal Effort
Comfort’s journey reflects a combination of opportunity and agency. Access to savings, loans, and training created space for growth. Her willingness to act on those opportunities has driven her progress.
“It has helped me immensely,” she says, reflecting on the experience. “I would like to sincerely thank all the partners.”
Today, Comfort is not only earning additional income; she is making informed business decisions, planning ahead, and steadily expanding her activities. Her story demonstrates how practical knowledge, combined with personal determination, can translate into sustained economic progress within rural communities.
About the Programme
In partnership with Beyond Beans, the Income Acceleration Programme (Ghana) sought to educate beneficiaries in financial literacy and empower them to undertake income-generating activities in addition to cocoa farming. The program has promoted sound financial management practices, encouraged responsible borrowing, and supported income diversification to enhance household resilience and long-term livelihoods