Suntaa-Tiataa is a women village savings and loans (VSLA) group in Tendoma a community in the Wa West district of the Upper West Region. Suntaa-Tiataa group, like all the other 152 VSLA groups set-up by CAPECS in under-served communities, was formed to address the challenges of sourcing funds to finance soya bean production which is the major activity of the GROW intervention. Through CAPECS, these women saw the need to come together to mobilize savings as a most guaranteed source of funding for their farming and other economic activities. The group had a total membership of 30 and an executive committee of 5 persons to oversee the general administration of its activities. Two separate funds were formed and operated, thus, the social fund and Loan fund. The social fund was idle to support members in social activities like marriages, naming ceremonies etc. whiles the loan fund was basically used to grant loans to members who were qualified and interested specially to finance economic activities they are engaged in. Suntaa-Tiataa group meet once every week to mobilize savings from members; Ghc1.00 and Ghc5.00 were minimum and maximum amounts respectively that a member could save in each sitting. A Ghc0.50 was a compulsory contribution for the social fund. According to one of the members, Abena Babelle, ‘‘we have learnt how to save money for future use and it is helping us a lot’’.

The group had its first SHARE OUT on 15th June 2018. This activity marks the end of a savings cycle where members will receive what savings they had made over the period including the share of interest amounts that had accrued through loans that were granted to its members.

‘‘I received Ghc 350 when the share-out was done and have already given out some money to my husband to buy okra seeds for us to sow’’

This was what Abena had to say!

This was not different from the story of other members of the group who also had their share depending on how much savings they accumulated. Abena revealed that, ‘‘it is much easier for us to come together as women in the community to discuss other issues’’

This we learnt through the VSLA meetings; however, it was a bit difficult prior to the advent of CAPECS in our community. Members of the group acknowledged the benefits of the VSLA because they already have sufficient fund for production going into the 2018 cropping season which was not the case in the past.

‘‘We will surely start a new circle because we have seen that the VSLA is helpful’’

This was in response to whether after the group dissolution beneficiaries would consider a fresh savings circle.