Whereas the Government is tauting 1 District, 1 Factory (1D1F) vision for the industrialization of the country for the creation of employment, an amputee industrial group, Ghana Dreams Disability Foundation and Agyenkwa Beverage Limited, which is into beverage production have been left in quagmire, as all efforts to seek governmental assistance have fallen on rocks.
According to the group numbering over a thousand across the country, since they cannot pour out into the streets to beg as others do, they have come together to form this association to enable them fend for themselves through many ways and one of these is the production of beverages.
They maintained that they have subsequently registered their company for this purpose and obtained certification from the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) for their products which consist of 100% natural fruits. Notable among them are passion fruit mix, pineapple Ginger mix, Cocktail fruit mix and many more. This came to light in an exclusive interview with ghananewsonline.com.gh last Wednesday at the factory’s Shine Villa.
Wild Goose Chase for Assistance
Mr. Richard Offei, president of the group stated that they started this move as far back as 2018 on a small scale. However, they introduced their products to a number of high profiled personalities in the country including Former President John Agyekum Kufour, Speaker ASK Bagbin, some members of Parliament and many others. He said in all these encounters the personalities commended their products and gave them their blessings.
Mr. Offei stated that in 2020, it downed on them to acquire a place at Shine Villa in the Gomoa East Assembly in the Central Region, with the aim of making production of a larger scale so as to ensure employment for members.
With this in mind, they wrote letters to ministries, departments and agencies for financial assistance to meet their aims and aspirations. He indicated that as if that was not enough they made personal follow ups but to no avoid. According to him even in some cases they were met with hostile attitudes.
Mr. Offei mentioned some of the places they sought for financial assistance as the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. The Ministry of Finance, The Ministry of Trade, The Gender Ministry, Business Development and many more but all to no avail.
Churches to the Rescure But ……………..
According to Mr. Offei, in desperation, they run to the churches and the Methodist and Apostolic Churches bought them one madvine each for their production; but even then this fell below expectation since they need capital to enable them acquire the basic logistics for operation. He indicated that as amputees there is no gain saying that they need a car to move about. Besides, they need vehicles of all sorts ranging from production to distribution. But there they are handicapped, he bemoaned
Slammed With Eviction Order
Mr. Offei pointed out their what has worsened that already despicable plight is that they have been slammed with an eviction order by their landlord, who believes that they cannot pay for their rent. Copy of the eviction order.
Desperation sets in
According to they groups, with all these seemingly unsurmountable problems, they are now at their wits end, i.e. either to pour into the stcets begging as their collegues or to leave the shores of this country, for a more friendly country, where they could be possibly be treated better. Any help from Mecidonia?
By S.O. Ankamah