The Ministry of Business Development has supported physically challenged women entrepreneurs across the country with GHC2million under the Presidential Empowerment for Women Entrepreneurs with Disability (PEWED).
According to the Minister for Business Development, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, the Ministry will raise an additional GHC2M by 2021 to support these women.
The Minister noted that government is committed to practicing inclusion and putting women on its agenda. He also noted that the PEWED initiative is to create an entrepreneurial environment as well as encourage people to be job creators and not job seekers.
Delivering his keynote address, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo noted that: “We have made strenuous efforts in bringing women on the agenda and throwing our weight on the he-for-she campaign.”
He said government is committed to empowering women especially with disability because over the last decade, newly created businesses have been created and owned by women.
According to him, the Mastercard Index 2018 revealed that women own 46.4% of business and are spearheading the hospitality and retail industries.
The President stated that: “We are focused on adding inclusive growth and creation of more jobs. We have supported 1,350 youth under the Presidential Business Support Programme with an amount ranging from GHC10,000 to GHC100,000.”
Nana Akufo-Addo added that 58% of these businesses that were supported were run by women. He added that six out of ten of the businesses that gained support for the Presidential Pitch were also owned and run by women.
He commended the Ministry of Business Development and the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP) for focusing on celebrating physically challenged women entrepreneurs during the Global Entrepreneurship Month.
He also congratulated them for their outstanding initiatives and contributions to supporting entrepreneurs across the country.
The President emphasized that the Presidential Empowerment for Women Entrepreneurs with Disability is not just a bid to fulfil his government’s promises but also to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 5, 8 and 10.
Source: B&FT Online
