Government offers PWDs an enterprise grant.

A GH12 million enterprise support initiative has been started by the government for the nation’s PWDs.

The PWD Enterprise Support Program aims to provide grant financing and technical assistance programs solely to 150 PWD-owned businesses.

Through grant money and business and financial management training, the proposed special window is intended to advance the welfare of PWD-owned businesses.

It targets PWD businesses in the following industries: textiles and apparel, construction, education, food and beverage, health care or pharmaceuticals, agriculture/agroprocessing, manufacturing, information technology, tourism, and hospitality.

In order to give businesses the chance to take advantage of the financial support that will be provided by the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) and funded by the World Bank under the Ghana Economic Transformation Project (GETP), an application portal will be open from June 6 of this year until the end of next month.

Assistance to enterprises

Dr. Stephen Amoah, a deputy minister of trade and industry, said the government was dedicated to assisting all companies in the nation to guarantee inclusive growth when he introduced the initiative in Accra yesterday.

He asserted that promoting economic empowerment and preserving high standards of inclusivity require support for PWDs in Ghana.

“It is important to note that interventions and programmes of such nature align with the government’s goals of providing training, capacity developing, funding, access to market, and technology to enable them to scale up their businesses and transition into the next stage of growth, thereby improving their ability to increase sales and exports,” he said.

He said that in order to effectively manage the nation’s micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), the government expanded the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) into a larger organization called GEA in 2021.

According to him, a national MSMEs policy was created to encourage the sector’s expansion in order to develop high-quality goods and services that can compete on a national and international level.

Lariba Zuweira Abudu, the minister for gender, children, and social protection, pointed out that despite recent advancements, PWDs still had a lot of difficulties adjusting to society.

She claimed that PWDs frequently faced barriers to participation in social, cultural, and economic activities as well as difficulty accessing fundamental social facilities that other people took for granted.

She emphasized that it was crucial to acknowledge that PWDs were an essential component of the community and had a lot to offer the growth of this wonderful country’s economy.

“PWDs have special abilities, perspectives, and skills that can enhance our society and aid in the development of a more inclusive and equitable society and future.

In order to guarantee that people with disabilities have equal access to opportunities and resources, he stated, “as a country, we must work together.”

According to him, this includes building accessible infrastructure, encouraging inclusive education, and giving jobs that are customized to their requirements.

Government not blind

Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, the chief executive officer of GEA, claimed that the government was aware of the different difficulties PWD-owned businesses faced.

He added that efforts were also being made to continue building an environment for local businesses, especially those run by PWDs, that was more supportive of growth.

Because the eligibility requirements were a bit too stringent to effectively compete with non-PWD enterprises, PWD firms have been underrepresented in the various technical assistance and grant programs, according to GEA.

Out of the more than 370 businesses that received grants under the COVID-19 Response Grant Program’s first phase, she stated, only three PWD enterprises were qualified for assistance.

She continued by saying that the nation’s support for PWD-owned enterprises was a great move that would aid in the promotion of a more varied and inclusive society.

Economic growth engine

The World Bank’s country director, Pierre Frank Laporte, stated that the bank thought MSMEs were a major force behind economic growth in the nation, helping to create jobs and promote socioeconomic inclusion.

According to him, it’s critical to encourage PWD-led businesses so they may expand and create opportunities for more people.

Commendation

Peter Obeng-Asamoa, the executive director of the Ghana Blind Union, applauded the government, GEA, and support organizations for launching the PWD Enterprise Support Program.

“We have been waiting for this kind of initiative for a long time to support us as we grow our businesses,” the executive director stated.

About Author