About 30 disabled women working in the Food and Beverage, Fashion and Beauty, Trade and Commerce and IT sectors have received a sum of GHC31,000 to fund their businesses.
Business Development Minister, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal who spearheaded the donation Thursday said, “Disabled persons constitute about 5% of the population. We cannot therefore achieve any national development without involving them, hence, this programme of empowerment for disabled women entrepreneurs”.
Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal also noted that out of the 52% of women in Ghana, only 41% of women have access to formal financial services to aid them in their businesses.
It is for this reason that the Akufo-Addo-led administration has strategized to introduce interventions which support women, specifically, persons with disabilities who constitute 5% of the population to have a boost in their businesses.
Speaking at the ceremony to present the money, Dr. Awal noted that these persons have undergone training to build their capacity to properly manage their businesses.
The presentation follows that of President Akufo-Addo who organized a similar donation two months ago to support them.
Dr. Awal, therefore, urged these women to employ others into their industrial territory to help eradicate the unemployment menace the country is engulfed in.
He said, “I want to encourage those benefiting today that…once you get the funding, try and employ at least one more person so that we can reduce the unemployment situation in the country.
He added that there will be a monitoring team to evaluate their work, adding that, there would be other business programmes from NEIP that will constantly interact with them to “build their capacities and give business ideas that will make their businesses thrive“.
Dr Awal further stated that, “Our intention is to help 1,000 women by the close of next year with funding. 50% of the money is grant, 50% is payable without interest and those who will do very well within three, six months will have an increase in the fund”.
He hinted that, 500 disabled men entrepreneurs would also have their share of the national cake early next year based on their inclusiveness policy.
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
