Some 20 women with disabilities from four districts in the Volta Region have benefited from skills development program to enhance their livelihoods.

The initiative implemented by the Women with Disability Development Advocacy Organization, (WODAO) saw the beneficiaries undergo a two-week skills training in wreaths and wig cap making, to enable them generate income for their livelihood.

The facilitators taught the beneficiaries how to use waste cartons, liquid packaging boards, and paperboard to produce wreaths.

They were also trained in records keeping and business management to enable them operate their businesses while avoiding running at a loss.

The Executive Director of WODAO, Madam Veronica Kofiedu, explained that her outfit organized the training in a bid to tackle the high unemployment rate among women with disabilities.

“In the long run we want our members to gain economic independence so they can cater for themselves, and their children,” she added.

She also appealed to the government, benevolent organizations, and individuals, to consider supporting initiatives geared towards improving the living standard of persons with disabilities.

In his address, the Executive Director of VOICE Ghana, Mr. Francis Asong, explained that his outfit will work in collaboration with WODAO to source for working capital for the beneficiaries.

He implored the beneficiaries to adopt the virtues of honesty and self-accountability in their daily dealings, which he believes would contribute to the growth of their small income generating businesses.

The beneficiaries lauded WODAO for the training, and promised to put what they have learned into action, so as to enhance their socio-economic lives.

The initiative was supported by the Bente Skansgard Independent Living Fund with 40,000 Norwegian Krone, equivalent to GHC27,000.

WODAO was established in 2017 by some women with disabilities, to champion the participation, social inclusion and independent living of marginalized women and children with disabilities in the country.