Eighty-eight persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Accra have received working tools and financial support worth GHS313,919.40 from the Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, as part of efforts to promote inclusion and economic empowerment.

The items distributed included thirty-eight 200-litre Nasco deep freezers, one showcase refrigerator, three fufu blending machines, five industrial sewing machines, one industrial knitting machine with GH¢300 each, three gas popcorn machines with 6kg gas cylinders and GHS500 each, one 2000W high-pressure washer, one electric wheelchair, one pair of hearing aids, and one laptop.

Addressing the gathering at the presentation held on Friday ahead of the Valentine’s Day celebration, the Mayor said disability was not anyone’s choice and that all people were created equal, adding that physical or sensory challenges did not make anyone less human.

The Mayor recounted a recent personal experience involving his bodyguard, Gideon Lamptey, popularly known as ‘Adodo’, who is hearing and speech impaired, noting that engaging him had reinforced his belief that persons with disabilities only required understanding and the right support systems to perform effectively.

Additionally, 32 beneficiaries received financial support of GH¢3,000 each to help expand or start small businesses, while one beneficiary received GH¢3,000 as educational support.

The beneficiaries comprised 46 physically challenged persons, 11 visually impaired persons, 10 hearing impaired persons, six persons with cerebral palsy, four persons with Down syndrome, two persons with epilepsy, two mentally challenged persons, two persons with multiple disabilities, three intellectually challenged persons, one person with autism, and one person with a learning disability.

The intervention forms part of ongoing efforts to improve the welfare of persons with disabilities and enhance their ability to earn sustainable livelihoods within the metropolis.

Mid last year, the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Camfed Ghana to support young women and persons living with disabilities across the country.

At the signing ceremony, YEA Chief Executive Officer Malik Basintale, reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to creating equal and meaningful opportunities for all.

He highlighted ongoing initiatives such as the YEA-GIZ partnership that trains and employs persons with disabilities in fashion, and announced the soon-to-be-launched Catfish Farming Program tailored for persons with disabilities.

"This partnership is yet another stride in building a Ghana that leaves no one behind," the YEA stated in a post.

The government on May 29, officially commissioned the Make Fashion Inclusive Training Centre after following its launch on September 16, 2024.

The centre, located in Kumasi, has been designed to empower and equip persons with disabilities (PWDs) by providing skills training, business development support, and others.

The initiative, led by the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) in partnership with the German Development Corporation, under the broader vision of Invest for Ghana, aims to create sustainable employment opportunities for PWDs in Ghana’s fashion industry.

Invest for Ghana is an initiative aimed at attracting foreign and local investments to boost Ghana’s economy. It focuses on job creation, industrial growth, and infrastructure development, particularly in sectors like agriculture, energy, digital innovation, and manufacturing.

Speaking during the commissioning, Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Malik Basintale, highlighted the government’s commitment towards disability inclusion for national development. Basintale revealed that the hub would not only be trained in fashion designing but other crafts as well.

He said, “The YEA is proud to be part of this journey that is your journey. As we open the doors of this hub today, we are opening the doors to independence, creativity, and economic opportunity for at least 100 persons living with disabilities to be trained not only in fashion design. But also be trained in embroidery, beading, and millinery works, and they will also be equipped with tools to build your businesses to employ others and to transform your community.”The government would also launch another programme that will train about three hundred PWDs in catfish farming, equipped with over 400 fingerlings to begin a trade.

“And just to confess, in the next two to three weeks, a new project will be launched from tailoring jobs held, where we would train about 300 persons with disabilities, equipping them with 500 fingerlings of catfish and setting them in the backyard of their houses to sell…” he added.

The launch saw the presence of Ghana’s Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo; GIZ; and other partners of the initiative, as well as local fashion entrepreneurs and PWD beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, the Mahama-led government, since assuming office, has implemented several programs to help reduce unemployment in the country and empower the youth as well.

Recently, YEA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ghana Fire Service to recruit 5,000 young Ghanaians as fire assistants across the country.

Also, the government launched the National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP), which is aimed at equipping young Ghanaians with practical, employable skills. It is expected to train 100,000 youth annually across all 261 districts in Ghana. The government has allocated GH¢300 million to cover training costs and monthly stipends for participants.