President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has presented GH¢2 million to 1,000 disabled men entrepreneurs.
The presentation which falls under the Presidential Empowerment for Male Entrepreneurs with Disability (PEMED) took place at the Jubilee House on Friday, 24th July 2020.
The President was hopeful that, the beneficiaries will use the funds to improve their businesses to ensure that they also create employment avenues for other people in the country.
“You, the beneficiaries, have already undergone training in areas such as financial management, business management, risks, marketing, and operations.
“It is expected that you will be guided by the structured training you have undergone, to enable you scale-up your businesses, and create job opportunities for people.”
He disclosed that, the programme forms part of government’s commitment to financially empower people who are vulnerable in the society.
“50% of the financial support on offer today are grants, whilst the other 50% are interest-free loans payable over two years.
“This is a demonstration of government’s commitment to empower financially the one thousand beneficiaries of this initiative, and help mainstream them into national economic activity.”
President Akufo-Addo promised the beneficiaries that, his government will remain committed to building an inclusive society which creates opportunities for all of its citizens.
“Government is committed to building an inclusive society in which every citizen has the opportunity to develop his or her God-given talent to the full, where the circumstances of one’s birth are not barriers to a citizen’s participation in the process of national development.”
On 30th April this year, the President at a brief ceremony at the Jubilee House also gave GH¢2 million to a 1000 women entrepreneurs living with disabilities.
The President at that ceremony said that, the Presidential Empowerment Programme is not only a fulfilment of an NPP Manifesto pledge to support women entrepreneurs and help improve the livelihoods of the disabled but also to help realise goals no. 5, 8, and 10 of the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
In August 2019, the government through the Ministry of Business Development headed by Dr Mohammed Ibrahim Awal disbursed a total of GH¢31,500 to 30 women entrepreneurs with disability (WED) to enable them grow their businesses.
Of the amount, GH¢11,500 was given to women in the trade and commerce industry, GH¢11,000 to the fashion and beauty industry, and GH¢9,000 to the food and beverages industry.
At that time, according to the Minister, a total of GH¢200,000 had been disbursed to women entrepreneurs with disabilities across the country as part of the programme.
Dr Awal also reiterated that, the initiative was to empower WED build their capacities and grow their businesses to enable them employ more people of their kind, adding that,
“The country cannot develop and achieve the goals of the SDGs without including persons with disability.”
