The Egyapa Care Foundation, a non-profit organisation established by the Member of Parliament for Sekondi and Minister for Tourism and Creative Arts, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, has provided cash grants to 420 traders in Sekondi.

Each trader received a grant of GH¢1,000 to help bolster their businesses. This initiative also coincides with the celebration of the Member of Parliament's 51st birthday.

The traders, who had expressed concern about their insufficient capital to sustain their businesses, were grateful to receive the much-needed financial support from their MP.

Andrew Egyapa Mercer explained that he founded the Egyapa Care Foundation to support traders and various groups within his constituency, aiming to address their financial challenges and promote economic growth.

“The Egyapa Care Foundation started in 2020. We have realized that every year, various organizations including hairdressers, trade associations, seamstresses, masons, carpenters, welders, and many others come to me for various forms of support, and it keeps increasing.

"So, we put together the Egyapa Care as a vehicle to solicit support just so that we can assist those who come to us in this regard. We have through the Egyapa Care distributed sewing machines, hair dryers, carpentry tools, mason tools, welding tools and many others,” he said in a media interview.

He emphasised that the grants were distributed to the traders without regard to any party affiliations.

“We did it without any political party affiliation, any trader who needed the support was given. Many still need financial support for their businesses, we shall go back to those who supported us and find out if they can make some more money available and we shall give it to them so that everyone will be satisfied. I will urge all of them to make good use of the support given to them, it may be small but can do many profitable if it is used well,” he added.

The Queen Mother of the Sekondi Market, Nana Krah, who coordinated the beneficiaries, expressed gratitude to the MP for his sensitivity to the challenges faced by women in the constituency.