During a recent partner support visit under the Civil Society Strengthening Fund (CSSF)—a component of Civil Society Strengthening Programme (CSSP) anchored by STAR-Ghana Foundation and the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI)—our team uncovered a remarkable story of resilience and innovation in the Bono East Region of Ghana.

At the heart of Jema, the district capital of Kintampo South, Mihoso International Foundation has taken a bold step to safeguard the financial security of local communities, particularly women and other vulnerable groups by establishing the Mihoso Cooperative Credit Union. This initiative is more than a financial institution; it is a testimony to the Shift the Power (StP) vision of community ownership, sustainability, and empowerment.

Mihoso

Mihoso International Foundation is a reputable organisation committed to public health education, sanitation and hygiene promotion, social and organisational development interventions, evidence-based advocacy, training, and livelihood empowerment programmes targeted at women, youth, and children.

The organisation was originally founded in 2003 as the Mission of Hope for Society Foundation by one Gabriel Gbiel Benarkuu.  After years of community-based projects, the foundation grew to collaborate with international funding partners.

Today, Mihoso operates across five regions—Bono, Bono East, Ashanti, Upper West, Northern, and Upper East—with a strong team of dedicated staff and volunteers. Its work spans from health and sanitation to rural development and empowerment initiatives.

The Cooperative Credit Union is one of its boldest steps toward ensuring long-term sustainability and real empowerment for the communities it serves.

STAR-Ghana Foundation and WACSI team with some staff of Mihoso International Foundation and Mihoso Cooperative Credit Union

From VSLAs to a Credit Union

According to Thomas Bernakuu, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Mihoso International Foundation, the idea was born out of years of working with women’s groups and Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs).

“We realised many of these groups were being exploited or collapsing due to poor management and external pressures. We could not watch their efforts go to waste,” he explained. “So, when the Shift the Power concept came, Mihoso saw it as an opportunity, with support from STAR-Ghana Foundation and WACSI, to bring all the groups together and formalise them into a cooperative credit union.”

Today, the Credit Union operates as a non-bank financial institution under the Department of Cooperatives, providing a secure and structured space for women and community members to save, invest, and grow together.

How It Works

The cooperative is built on a simple but powerful concept: ownership by members. The VSLAs and other community groups buy shares—minimum of GH₵500—making them co-owners and giving them the right to select leaders to serve on three committees: Loans, Education, and Supervisory.

With a strong governance structure, including mobile bankers and financial advisors, the union has grown rapidly. In just three months of operation, it has mobilised inflows of about GH₵300,000, drawn from VSLAs, business operators, and individuals. The Credit Union already serves a customer base of over 800 people, with more than 20 groups formally buying shares.

Each year, dividends are shared among members, while a portion is reserved for community projects—such as boreholes—or ploughed back to support Mihoso’s wider operations and sustainability.

Impact on Communities

The Credit Union has directly addressed issues such as theft of group savings, non-repayment of loans, and exploitation by external lenders. With legal backing and formal systems, members now save and borrow with confidence. During emergencies, they can access funds without depending on exploitative sources.

Most importantly, this initiative has created a win-win situation: communities benefit not only from financial dividends but also from collective investments in social infrastructure and group welfare.

One member, Daniel Maanikuu Dekunwine, a VSLA committee leader, testified:
“Before joining the Credit Union, emergencies were very challenging for our group. Now, with this initiative, we can get timely help.”

The transformation is also visible in the lives of individual women:

Cynthia Adombire, a dressmaker, shared that she moved from renting a small room to acquiring land and starting her own building. She has also expanded her business, acquired modern sewing and knitting machines.

Cynthia Adombire, a member of the Mihoso Cooperative Credit Union

Faustina Azuure, a hairdresser, explained that the Credit Union helped her expand her salon, purchase a deep freezer, and start a side business selling cold drinks—something that was impossible before.

Faustina Azuure, a member of the Mihoso Cooperative Credit Union

Ruth Sangue, a cosmetics trader, highlighted how she now restocks her shop regularly and appreciates the discipline that comes with having a savings book.

Ruth Sangue, a member of the Mihoso Cooperative Credit Union

These stories reflect the true spirit of StP—communities taking charge of their future.

Sustainability and Growth

Sustainability is at the core of the Credit Union’s strategy. Shares remain the foundation of its capital base, while deposits are carefully managed to ensure financial health. The institution has also created a reserve fund and invested in fixed deposits to build resilience.

Currently, the Credit Union operates across Kintampo South but has zoned areas for expansion, including Sene, Yeji and Mo.

“Chiefs from Kintampo have already requested a branch, while groups in Sunyani—where Mihoso’s headquarters is based—are also expected to join. In future, wherever Mihoso has an office, there will be a branch of the Credit Union,” Mr. Bernakuu affirmed.

The establishment of the Credit Union was a long-standing dream for Mihoso, but lack of resources made it difficult to actualise. The Civil Society Strengthening Fund (CSSF) provided the crucial support needed to engage communities, develop a strategic plan, and register with the Department of Cooperatives.

“The StP approach helped us transform our dream into reality,” Mr. Bernakuu noted. “Now the people see the Credit Union as their own, and that is the essence of sustainability.”

Thomas Benarkuu, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Mihoso International Foundation

Looking Ahead

With a focus on women and vulnerable groups, the Mihoso Cooperative Credit Union has already begun to alleviate poverty, strengthen small businesses, and promote community-led development. Its structure ensures that benefits go beyond individuals to entire communities, reinforcing the collective spirit.

Sarah Adjei, Projects Manager, Civil Society Strengthening Programme (CSSP) at STAR-Ghana Foundation 

As Sarah Adjei, Projects Manager for the CSSP at STAR-Ghana Foundation, explained:
“The story of Mihoso’s Cooperative Credit Union is a practical demonstration of how the Shift the Power concept works in reality. It shows how local initiatives, when supported, can generate ownership, sustainability, and real impact in communities.”

From struggling VSLAs to a thriving credit union, Mihoso’s journey is proof that with the right support, communities can design their own pathways to resilience and prosperity.

Fact sheet

• The Civil Society Strengthening Programme – Shifting the Poweris a long-term support to civil society in Ghana, contributing to civil society actors (CSAs) becoming more resilient, responsive, and effective in delivering the priorities of their constituents.
• It is an eight-year programme implemented by STAR-Ghana Foundation (SGF) and the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI)with funding from Comic Relief and the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO).
• The CSSP/#StP maintains that ‘if we connect capacities at the local and national levels and we maintain civic advocacy on critical issues, then we would be strengthening agencies of groups and communities to demand and ensure accountability and responsiveness to issues of social and economic inclusion’.
• The main delivery mechanism for this programme is grants and capacity strengthening. There are three grant components: the Catalyst Fund, Civil Society Strengthening Fund and the Matching Fund. The Catalyst Fund supports the institutional and capacity strengthening of small organisations, networks and associations.
• The CSSF seeks to support CSAs to implement their strategic plans, including institutional strengthening elements.
• The Community Matching Fund will explore innovative funding for CSAs who want to explore local resource mobilisation and diversify their sources of funding.