United Way Ghana, a non-profit organisation has handed over starter-packs to 54 individuals to support them establish their own small-scale businesses.

The individuals from Bortianor and Dampase in the Ga South and Gomoa East Districts respectively had undergone three months training in adult literacy and financial literacy.

They were also taken through a four-month training in vocational skills such as soap making, baking, batik tie and dye and beads making.

The program which is in collaboration with the Engage Now Africa (ENA), a non-governmental organisation was funded by a grant from the United Way Worldwide COVID-19 Response Fund.

Speaking at a short ceremony in Accra yesterday, the Executive Director of United Way Ghana, Mr Felix Kissiedu-Addi, said the project sought to end poverty by empowering individuals and families by teaching them the basic principles of sustainability in education and financial stability.

He said the project would provide opportunities for beneficiaries to become financially literate while engaging them in some vocational skills training.

“The negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be overemphasized as it has increased the cost of living for residents of these low income communities. There is the need to diversify the community’s economy to create other sources of income particularly for the economically disadvantaged,” Mr Kissiedu-Addi, said.

He said the training provided the small-scale business operators would not only create employment to sustain their families but would also improve the ability of parents and caretakers to be more responsible towards the education and welfare of their children.

Mr Addi said with support from the Municipal Executive Chief Executive and other stakeholders in the two communities, their businesses would be registered as well.

“As an organisation that believes and holds impact, transparency, accountability, sustainability and partnership in high esteem, we know that this intervention is the right approach to building community resiliency in both communities. We also know that, the communities are ready to support these new entrepreneurs to enable them to succeed and live of dignity,” he said.

The Country Director of ENA, Madam Cecilia Amankwah said the beneficiaries graduated last year after going through the programme with certificates to enable them have a competitive advantage as they grow their businesses.

She maintained that the project would go a long way to promote diversification in the two communities so that both the fisher and farming folks could have multiple streams of income to improve their livelihoods.

Madam Amankwah urged the beneficiaries to put the training to good use to help improve their lives.

The Assembly Member of the Bortianor Electoral Area, Mr Dan-Bright Abayatey expressed  gratitude to United Way Ghana and ENA for the bring the programme to the Ga South Municipality.

He urged the organizations to facilitate more developmental projects in the area.

The beneficiaries expressed their appreciation to the organizers for helping equipping them with skills that could help them create their own businesses.