Editorial

Supporting women entrepreneurs will spur development

THE world is abound with enough evidence that when women are empowered and have financial control, they are powerful agents of change in families and communities.

It is also without doubt that in every corner of the world, women empowerment has led to the transformation of health, end hunger and overcome hardships.

Indeed, empowerment of women particularly, though access to financial resources have played critical role in poverty alleviation in many communities around the world.

It is against this backdrop that we commend the Ministry of Business Development and the Minister, Dr Mohammed Ibrahim Awal, for the institution of Presidential Empowerment Programme to support 1,000 women entrepreneurs with disabilities to improve their livelihoods.

According to the ministry, the programme is also aimed at realising goals number five, eight and 10 of the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Addressing the beneficiaries in Accra on Thursday, Dr Awal explained that the programme which was expected to last for two years, was aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs with disabilities (WED) and build their capacities as well as grow their businesses to enable them employ more people.

He added that, the country cannot develop and achieve the SDGs without the inclusion of persons with disabilities.

“We want to build an inclusive society that is why we are supporting persons with disabilities who constitute 5 per cent of the country’s population and help them to grow their businesses,” he said.

The Ghanaian Times sees the effort by the Business Development Ministry as a life-changing activity and support to one of the vulnerable groups in society.

The financial support to the WED is a combination of economic and social empowerment that would enable the women invest in the business.

Without the support, these women are unlikely to get financial help from traditional financial institutions and continue to face economic hardships.

With the support, the women would now be able to invest in the income-generating activities and have access to financial services as well as contribute to job creation in the country.

It is true that women typically invest in their families and communities more than men, thus spreading wealth and increasing quality of life for themselves and their families.

This is their major contribution to national development and we urge the government to spread the support across the country for the benefit of more women.

Indeed, there is enough evidence to show that putting economic resources in women’s hands is the best way to accelerate development and sustainably reduce poverty.

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