GH¢5m Fund established to support Women Entrepreneurs with Disability – Akufo-Addo
A five million fund has been established to support disabled women entrepreneurs in Ghana. This was made known by President Akufo-Addo before Members of Parliament on Thursday.
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The fund, known as Presidential Empowerment for Women Entrepreneurs with Disability, will provide financial support to some 1,000 women entrepreneurs with disability in two years to either establish or scale-up their businesses.
Delivering his address on the State of the Nation, President Akufo-Addo said, his administration will “continue to improve and expand social protection interventions to cover those who need them”.
He added that targeting persons who genuinely need social interventions are very necessary. “It is critical that the social protection interventions are targeted at those who genuinely need them, and who would use them to help lift themselves out of poverty”.
The President stated that 850 women entrepreneurs with disability across the country have benefited from the fund. This is made up of 50% grant and 50% loan without interest.
According to him, the support has enabled the women to expand their businesses, and to create 180 direct jobs and many more indirect jobs.
President Akufo-Addo further stated that The Presidential Empowerment for Women Entrepreneurs with Disability does not only help deliver a manifesto commitment, it is also in fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 5, 8, 10, which aims to ensure economic inclusion of women, and to harness their talents and capabilities for national development.
The Disability Act, Act 715 according to the President will be amended to comply with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
“Mr Speaker, we have begun the process of amending the Disability Act, Act 715, to comply with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and, hopefully, this House will pass it before the end of the year. As part of the Disability Inclusive Policy of Government, all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies have representations of Persons with Disabilities to enable them partake in local level governance”.
Source: Theresa Adezewa Ayittey
