The Ministry of Business Development has begun the disbursement of GH¢200,000 to 120 women with disability across the country under a Presidential Empowerment for Women Entrepreneurs with Disability programme.
As part of the process, the ministry yesterday presented the first tranche of GH¢31,500 to 32 beneficiaries who are into food and beverages, fashion and beauty; trade and commerce and information technology at a ceremony in Accra.
The rest of the beneficiaries will receive theirs on a later date.
The initiative is aimed at improving the living conditions of women entrepreneurs with disability to enable them to expand their businesses.
Beneficiaries will only pay back 50 per cent of the fund without interest with the rest serving as a grant.
The money is part of a GH¢4 million fund launched by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in May, 2019, to support 1,000 women with disability within the next two years.
Significance
The Minister of Business Development, Dr Mohammed Ibrahim Awal, explained that the disbursement was part of the government’s support for women entrepreneurs with disability to help them scale up their businesses and employ other people.
He said women usually strived for support to grow their businesses, and that even when they received any, it was often not enough.
The minister said the dynamics were now changing with the current government which, he said, was committed to lending financial and technical support to women to grow their businesses.
“President Akufo Addo is committed to the Presidential Empowerment for Women Entrepreneurs programme because he is convinced that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved without the involvement of persons with disability,” he added.
According to Dr Awal, the government was also working to roll out an Empowerment for Men Entrepreneurs with Disability programme to support 500 men with disability next year.
He urged the beneficiaries to put their money to good use, adding that the ministry would continue to monitor and offer them the necessary support.
Appreciation
On behalf of his colleagues, a beneficiary, Ms Eugenia Eva Kpoka, expressed appreciation to the government for the support.
“Some people believe that there is nothing good in us and that we cannot do anything better. We are, therefore, grateful that the government has seen the best in us and has decided to support us,” she added.
Ms Kpoka entreated the public to patronise their products and services to help grow their businesses.