70 persons with disability receive financial support to boost their businesses

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has given financial support to 70 men with disabilities to boost their businesses.

The financial support, which ranges between GHȻ10, 000 and GHȻ50, 000, is under the Presidential Empowerment for Male Entrepreneurs with Disability (PEMED).

Fifty percent of the funds are grant and the other 50 percent, interest-free loan, payable in two years. The gesture is part of a GHȻ2 million facility that 1,000 disabled men across the country would benefit under PEMED.

The programme comes in four categories; tailor’s and designers, barbers, shoemakers and traders.

At a ceremony at the Jubilee House on Friday, President Akufo-Addo said the government would create an entrepreneurial climate, to enable young people, including the disabled, to come up with creative ideas to boost their businesses.

The President who spoke on the theme: “Financial inclusion for Male Entrepreneurs with Disability”, said rebuilding the economy, after Convid-19, required emphasis on entrepreneurship and businesses, which underscores the exceptional significance of the PEMED.

He said their counterparts, women with disabilities, who last year received financial support and training under PEWED to boost their capacity, have found creative ways of investing their cash to scale-up their businesses and create jobs.

“We need to do all within our power to create an entrepreneurial climate, to enable our young people, including the disabled, to come up with creative ideas which will develop into businesses,” the President said.

The Minister for Business Development, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, whose Ministry is responsible for the initiative, said, “We are committed to creating a sustainable and most business-friendly and business enabling environment, that fosters private sector-led investment for job creation and livelihoods.”

He said the government would promote the entrepreneurial capacity of the youth and disabled, as well as nurture, build and promote indigenous Ghanaian businesses.

Disabled persons in Ghana, have limited access to finance and employment opportunities. PEMED was, therefore, initiated to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of men with disabilities to enable them to contribute to economic development.

Rex Mainoo Yeboah, ISD