GH¢723, 000 business resources centre for PWDs in Ellembele

A GH¢723,000 multi-purpose business resources centre (BRC) will soon be constructed for the training of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Ellembele district of the Western Region.

To be sited at Esiama, the storey building facility will boast of 40 stores on the upper floor, 40 on the ground floor, 44 open sheds, a spacious car park and a showroom for the exhibition of handiworks of the PWDs.

Contract for execution of the project has already been awarded, with the district assembly busily mobilizing funds to ensure that it is completed and handed over within twelve months.

According to Kwasi Bonzoh, the District Chief Executive for the area, the rationale for the construction of the centre is to take all PWDs in the district off the streets and train them to enable them earn decent living.

Presentation

He made the disclosure when he presented some items to 35 PWDs in the area to promote their businesses. The ceremony took place at Ezolenoenu, a predominantly farming community in the district.

The items included deep freezers, fufu pounding machines, pepper grinding machines, essential and aluminium commodities, dryers and other hair dressing tools.

It was the 4th in the series since the NPP came into power, with plans by the assembly to do yet another one before the end of the year.

The Daily Statesman learned that a mechanism has been put in place to monitor and ensure that all items presented to the PWDs are not sold but used for the intended purposes.

The DCE noted that many PWDs in Ellembele have already received training in soap, beads, shoe and dress making from some non-governmental organisations and the Department of Community Development and Social Welfare, but are scattered practicing their vocation on road sides.

Bonzoh K, as the DCE is popularly called, said this does not augur well, hence the assembly’s plan to bring all of them under a common roof where they will conveniently receive further training and also make good money out of it.

Guest house

To help generate more funds for upkeep of PWDs in the district, he further disclosed, the assembly has so far spent some GHC65, 000 on the building of a guest house at Ezolenoenu for them.

He said the project, started by the erstwhile NDC, would be completed and handed over in the next two months, with air conditioners, fridges and furniture fixed in every room.

He added that a manager would be employed to see to the day-to-day running of the facility, adding that it will also be open to members of the public and serve as a priority lodging place for the assembly’s visitors. This, he said, would generate revenue for the PWDs in the area.

He reiterated the NPP’s commitment to making life comfortable for PWDs, and urged them to vote massively for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and him, as the governing party’s parliamentary candidate for the area, in the December 7 general elections.

George Mozoh, president of the PWDs, expressed gratitude to government for having the interest and well-being of members at heart, and pledged their readiness to give the NPP ‘four more years to do more’.

Mr Mozoh appealed to the government to provide the PWDs with more wheel chairs and a vehicle to aid their movements, especially to public gatherings.

Source: dailystatesman.com.gh/Yaaba Yamikeh