Until 2000, bee hunting in rural communities near Tamale, the capital of Ghana 's Northern Region, was an exclusive male activity. It offered men an off-farming season income, particularly in the long dry season that stretches for about seven months. Usually, the men searched for bee colonies in the wild, far away from their communities. Harvesting of bee combs was done at night and it involved climbing trees with fire to disperse or kill the bees in order to have access to the combs. The harvesters wore no protective clothes to safeguard themselves against bee stings. These risks did not encourage women to participate in harvesting honey.

To introduce improved beekeeping practices that will encourage women's participation, the U.S. Government through USAID and its partner, Opportunities Industrialization Centers International (OICI) examined traditional beekeeping in the area, including the quality of honey, and folklore and taboos associated with bees. Then, over 640 women in 23 rural communities near Tamale participated in a five-day skills training. This enabled the women to learn techniques such as hive sighting, arrangement and conditioning, processing ripe honey, and preventing invasions of empty hives by ants, wasps, termites, and hive beetles. USAID provided each community group with wooden hives, smokers, and protective clothing, including gloves, boots and veils.

With the improved techniques and materials, the women have gained confidence to deal with the risks inherent with bees. They have located beehives near their communities and at a convenient height that makes harvesting very easy. The women now harvest quality honey that sells for more than three times the price of the ones obtained through the traditional system. Furthermore, the improved hive yields four times the quantity of honey harvested from the wild. In the 2004 major harvesting period of March to April, for instance, the 23 women groups harvested 186 gallons of honey, estimated at about $2,600. The remarkable harvests have increased the incomes of the women by 50% and they now contribute to household expenses as well as provide their children money for lunch at school. "We get enough money from beekeeping to carry out other income generating activities, and assist our husbands to provide our children's school and household needs," Sanatu Nantogoma said.