By Eunice Hilda Ampomah, GNA
Accra, Feb.20, GNA – Since the establishment of the “Presidential Empowerment for Women Entrepreneurs with Disability Fund,” in April 2019, 850 women with disability across the country have benefitted from it to enhance their businesses and secure their livelihood.
The Fund, with a dedicated amount of GH¢5 million, was established by the government with the aim of providing financial support to 1,000 women entrepreneurs with disability within two years, either to establish or scale-up their businesses.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made this known while delivering the fourth “State of the Nation Address,” under his administration on Thursday in Parliament.
He said the Fund, which was 50 per cent grant and 50 per cent loan without interest, would either enable the beneficiaries to expand their businesses or help to create 180 direct jobs and many more indirect jobs for women with disability.
The establishment of the Fund, President Akufo-Addo explained, was not only a delivery of a manifesto commitment, but also a fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals “5, 8, and 10” aimed at promoting economic inclusion of women and harness their talents and capabilities to foster national growth.
With regard to the Disability Act (Act 715), he said government begun the processes of amending it to comply with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability and expressed optimism that Parliament would pass it by the end of 2020.
“As part of the Disability Inclusive Policy of Government, all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies have representations of Persons with Disability to enable them partake in local level governance,” he added.
GNA