Business support for women with disabilities key to economic growth – First Lady
First Lady Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo has commended efforts by the government, civil society groups and all entities committed to the entrepreneurial advancement of disabled women in business.
According to her, supporting disabled women in business is key to the achievement of inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Ghana.
Mrs Akufo-Addo made this known at a fundraising gala night in aid of physically challenged women in business on Thursday, 29 November 2018.
Recounting some interventions by the Ministry of Business Development to support women entrepreneurs in Ghana, Mrs. Akufo-Addo said: “I recall the National Conference on Women Entrepreneurs organised earlier this year; the capacity-building seminar on financial inclusion for women entrepreneurs and the health walk, which took place during the celebration of the national entrepreneurship month.
“His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is very passionate about creating an entrepreneurial culture in Ghana, which will make Ghana the most business-friendly country in Africa. I am convinced that the hard-working women of this country, will be playing a very important role in the achievement of this laudable vision, even as we progress towards a ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’.”
She disclosed that while about 80 per cent of women are engaged in various economic activities, predominantly in the informal micro- to medium-scale agriculture, manufacturing, and services sectors of the economy, there are more women entrepreneurs and women-run businesses than those managed by men despite the many challenges.
Still emphasising the inroads made by women in business in Ghana, Mrs Akufo-Addo said she has noted with satisfaction that under the Presidential Business Support Programme of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme of the Ministry of Business Development, 58 per cent of the 1,350 beneficiaries, who received financial support, were businesses owned by women.
She, however, lamented the prevalent situation where limiting the capabilities of women, coupled with other challenges makes it extremely difficult for women to be creative.
She bemoaned how women with disabilities, in particular, suffer discrimination and violations of their basic human rights in all facets of life and how many of them have limited access to education, healthcare, decision-making, and employment opportunities, thus, aggravating their conditions of poverty.
“It is for this reason that I consider today’s fundraising event very important in supporting our disabled women in business, towards the achievement of inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Ghana,” she stated.
The First Lady was confident that through the collaboration between the Ministry of Business Development and the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection, the entrepreneurial capacity of women can be improved significantly and urged women to also take advantage of the numerous opportunities available, under the industrialisation agenda and various initiatives such as the planting for food and jobs.
The Head of the Rebecca Foundation commended the Ministry of Business Development for their work and called for increased advocacy to improve the lot of Ghanaian women.
Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com
