Convener for Peoples’ Mother Foundation and former Member of Parliament for Oforikrom Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Elizabeth Agyemang has held a Women Empowerment Conference for women in the various markets in Ashanti Regional capital Kumasi.
The event was under the theme: ‘Fostering Entrepreneurship Ecosystems and Building Post-Covid Resilience’.
Personnel from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Republic Bank, Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) and a Banking Consultants were present to sensitize the women on ways to access their services.
Giving a remark at the event, Elizabeth Agyemang indicated that most of the market women lost their capital during the Covid pandemic and with the current economic crisis, most of them are not able to break even.
This situation according to Ms. Agyemang is having a toll on women and their work. Therefore, the conference is to help find ways by which these women will be empowered to improve their work, their lives and that of their families.
“The world is currently in an economic crisis and our market women are making losses. The dollar rate is affecting the prices of goods they bring onto the market. So, we are here today to find ways by which we can assist our women in this difficult time. We have come here to listen to your pleas, and to find ways to assist you to improve your work.
We know most of you lost your capital during the COVID pandemic. COVID impacted all organisations and businesses negatively. We have invited bankers, consultants, regulators among others to help you understand the nature of their work and how they can help you improve on your activities in the various markets,” she highlighted.
Deputy Coordinator for National Lottery Authority (NLA) Good Causes Foundation, Ama Frimpong in a remark also explained that her outfit is available to assist women in diverse ways, especially giving support to women in entrepreneurship and empowerment.
“Part of the proceeds from the NLA goes into charity works in the country, especially for women and children, and the vulnerable in society,” she added
Ms. Frimpong further urged the women to put in a formal request for such support as cushion to their business financial growth.
Furthermore, a Banking Consultant, Kojo Sarpong shared with the women guidelines on how to prepare themselves adequately by doing due diligence before they make any move to secure loans from the banks or any financial institutions.
