By Stanley Senya
Accra, Dec. 18, GNA – A major digital inclusion initiative has made significant impact in Somanya and surrounding communities, where 100 young women with disabilities have been equipped with essential digital and financial skills.
The project, known as the Digital Access and Rural Empowerment (DARE) Programme, was implemented by Inclusive Tech Group (ITG) in partnership with UNESCO and with funding support from the Mastercard Foundation.
The six-month initiative, carried out from June to November 2025, aimed to reduce the digital divide and open new economic opportunities for women with disabilities, many of whom face social, economic, and accessibility barriers to participation in Ghana’s digital economy.
The DARE project provided structured training in basic computer literacy, digital marketing, business planning, financial management, data entry, and the use of assistive technologies.
Delivered in five cohorts, the training used an inclusive model that integrated sign language interpretation, screen readers, mobility assistance, and accessible learning environments to accommodate diverse disability types.
According to ITG, this approach ensured every participant, including those with visual, hearing, and mobility impairments, could fully participate and apply the skills learnt.
Participants were drawn from Somanya, Sikaben, Huhunya, Krobo Odumase, Nkurakan, Agormanya, and nearby communities.
Many women with little or no computer experience ended the training, independently navigating digital tools, designing promotional materials, and managing simple business records.
So far, 25 women have already launched small businesses using skills acquired through the programme, ranging from online pastry sales to cloth sales and digital services.
Mr Joseph Aboagye, Project Coordinator for Inclusive Tech Group, emphasized that the initiative had demonstrated the power of accessible training in unlocking potential.
He said many of the women lacked confidence before the programme but completed the training with new ambitions and the capability to pursue income-generating activities.
“Digital inclusion is not just about skills, it is about dignity, opportunity, and empowerment. These women now have the tools to participate more fully in the digital world,” he said.
UNESCO and Mastercard Foundation underscored the significance of the project in promoting gender equality, disability inclusion, and digital empowerment.
By investing in rural women with disabilities, the DARE programme contributes to broader national and global development goals focused on digital equity and economic inclusion.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba