Kikam: Mr Paul Kodwo Kwaw, the Assembly Member for Kikam Electoral Area, has made a significant contribution by donating his monthly allowance of more than GHS10,000 to fund a free entrepreneurship training programme for over 100 residents across four communities in the Ellembelle District.
According to Ghana News Agency, the two-day training programme was organized under the auspices of Self Development Partners, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), with the goal of empowering individuals to achieve economic self-sufficiency and financial independence. The participants, predominantly women, received training in the production of items such as powdered soap, shower gel, toothpaste, frytol oil, weedicide, and fertilizer.
The beneficiary communities of this initiative include Bobrama, Asemko, Kikam, and Kikam North. During an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Kwaw, who is also running for the Ellembelle Constituency Secretary position of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), expressed that this livelihood empowerment programme is the first of its kind since he became Assembly Member for the electoral area.
He explained that the initiative is part of his annual efforts to bring transformative interventions to the area, which have previously included breast cancer awareness and eye screening exercises. The funding for the training materials was sourced from his monthly allowance and personal resources, supplemented by some assistance from the NGO, as a gesture to give back to the communities that elected him.
Looking ahead, Mr Kwaw announced plans for a future training programme focused on ginger cultivation, recognizing its potential as a lucrative business opportunity. He encouraged residents to capitalize on the high market demand for ginger.
Mr Samuel Ackah Cobbinah, a Resource Officer with Self Development Partners, confirmed Mr Kwaw's sponsorship of the training materials and highlighted the participants' active engagement during the sessions, which enabled them to produce the products independently.
Mr Ackah Cobbinah urged participants to leverage the training to become self-sufficient in producing indigenous organic products, positioning them as alternatives to foreign imports. He assured that all necessary materials are readily available on the Ghanaian market, encouraging production for both personal use and commercial sale.
Madam Sarah Onsonyameye, a participant from Kikam, expressed gratitude on behalf of all participants to the Assembly Member for the opportunity to improve their living conditions. She remarked on the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of the training compared to her previous experience in soap making and appealed to community members who missed the training to learn from the participants.