Western Regional Manager of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Mr. Albert Ababio, has called on the corporate community in the region to make a conscious effort to create space in their budget for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
He noted that once that is done they could go ahead and identify persons with disabilities and draw programmes to support them.
Alternatively, he proposed a scheme where donations to such people will become a common feature on their calendar every year.
Mr. Ababio believes that it was not appropriate for corporate entities to respond to request for help only when it is made.
He noted that corporate entities could organise skills development workshops that will equip persons with disabilities with employable skills or skills which can help them start something on their own.
“Corporate entities should consider organising workshops as part of their corporate social responsibility for persons with disabilities which will focus on capacity building for persons with disabilities to enable them obtain employable skills… by so doing it will prevent persons with disabilities from flooding the streets to beg for alms,” he noted.
Mr. Ababio made the call in an interview with Today on the sidelines of a stakeholder’s conference organised by Friends of the Nation to enlighten persons with disabilities on their rights and privileges as stipulated in the Persons with Disability Act, ACT 751.
He suggested that banks can extend soft loans with equally soft payment plans for persons with disability to start up their own business.
“The banks can create deliberate financing to support persons with disability. When we are looking for supports for SMEs we should also look at people with disability who have their own business who they can support with some of these soft loans or grants which they could use as seed capital to start up their own business,” he explained.
Mr. Ababio advised Ghanaians to change their perception about persons with disability.
He mentioned that one way every member of society can support them is by purchasing products made by them.
“It is sad how persons with disability will set up a business and because of their deformity members of the public will refrain from patronizing their product.
“…those who even patronized do not pay the right price…The AGI is assuring that going forward we will roll out communication strategies to help change the unfortunate perceptions,” he asserted.
Story: From Simon Ahensah, Takoradi, Western Region
