By Caleb Kuleke, GNA
Ho, July 25, GNA – Madam Veronica Denyo Kofiedu, Founder and Executive Director, Women with Disability Development and Advocacy Organisation (WODAO), has disclosed that her outfit has been selected as an implementing partner under Sightsavers’ Digital Futures Programme.
She said the programme sought to strengthen digital inclusion, employment, entrepreneurship, and policy influence for young people with disabilities.
Madam Kofiedu said this in an interview for the Ghana News Agency, when she paid a courtesy call on the Volta Regional Minister, Mr James Gunu to present him with a citation of honour for promoting inclusive governance and the rights of women and girls with disabilities.
The Executive Director said the programme was funded by the MasterCard founded and would benefit over 8,000 young women with disabilities, who would be trained in digital skills at the University of Ghana.
She said WODAO would be responsible for mobilising young persons with disabilities for digital skills and employment programmes, supporting entrepreneurs with disabilities through Business Disability Networks.
The organisation would also oversee leading national policy influencing disability-inclusive digital transformation and employment and supporting disability-inclusive communication and behaviour change campaigns, she said.
Madam Kofiedu said the organisation was also undertaking “economic empowerment of women entrepreneurs with disabilities” with focus on engaging with development partners to expand access to market linkages, entrepreneurship development, business incubation, and financial inclusion.
Under “inclusive health and menstrual health,” project, she said WODAO was strengthening partnerships to promote menstrual health education, sexual and reproductive health rights, and disability-inclusive health communication, and community awareness for women and girls with disabilities.
Madam Kofiedu applauded the Government for its Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities Initiative and sought the support of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council to position WODAO as a strategic regional civil society partner to support implementation in the Volta Region.
The Executive Director said WODAO could contribute through community mobilisation and identification of eligible beneficiaries, public awareness and community sensitisation, collaborate with district stakeholders, monitor enrolment, retention, and beneficiary experiences.
The organisation could also support documentation of lessons learned and preparation of periodic reports to support regional planning and accountability, she added.
GNA
Edited by: Maxwell Awumah/George-Ramsey Benamba