Over the weekend, OSEI Collective proudly exhibited at the UK Black Business Show 2025, showcasing an inspiring range of handcrafted products created by talented Ghanaian artisans living with disabilities.
The non-profit organisation, registered in both Ghana and England & Wales and operating independently of government funding, captivated audiences with products that showcase the extraordinary talent, skill, and entrepreneurial spirit of persons with disabilities in Ghana.
At the UK Black Business Show 2025, an event dedicated to celebrating the achievements and impact of Black-owned enterprises, OSEI Collective stood out for its powerful demonstration of how inclusion, entrepreneurship, and craftsmanship can drive sustainable development.
Visitors experienced firsthand the remarkable artistry and resilience of disabled Ghanaian artisans, whose creations reflect both cultural heritage and social transformation.
In sub-Saharan Africa, unemployment among persons with disabilities can reach as high as 80–90%, leaving many excluded from economic participation. OSEI Collective exists to change that reality by advancing dignified livelihoods for artisans and entrepreneurs with disabilities in Ghana through skills training, adaptive tools, and pathways to market access.
By bridging creativity and commerce, OSEI Collective connects Ghanaian craftsmanship to global markets, turning locally made, hand-crafted products into export opportunities that drive inclusive trade between the UK and Ghana.
Through this model, artisans are able to generate sustainable income, support their families, and participate in the economy on their own terms.
Its economic empowerment programme: Project MRKTPLCE, showcases artisan-made goods at international platforms such as the UK Black Business Show 2025, strengthening visibility and global appreciation for Ghana’s creative economy while redefining what inclusive trade can look like across Africa.
“Given the right support, persons with disabilities (PWDs) can achieve economic success, with the implication being that investment in education or training of PWDs can be productive and should be part of overall development efforts for economic reasons, not solely to achieve social justice goals” commented Jessica Quelennec, Founder and CEO, OSEI Collective.
OSEI Collective’s mission directly supports the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, working to reshape how the world views and values persons with disabilities across Africa.
The organisation’s vision extends beyond Ghana, aiming to create a paradigm shift that reduces stigma, promotes dignity, and celebrates people with disabilities as beacons of empowerment and independence continent-wide.
“OSEI Collective has demonstrated that investing in people with disabilities and in barrier removal efforts in education, employment, and the wider environment makes excellent economic sense,” Jessica added. “We will continue to work with private actors and relevant stakeholders to implement interventions that address the many barriers preventing more people with disabilities from achieving success.
Through its accessible members’ collective, OSEI Collective provides free programmes, tools, and resources designed to foster self-reliance and confidence among entrepreneurs and artisans with disabilities.
The collective aims to build a scalable blueprint for inclusive entrepreneurship across Africa and the Diaspora, proving that investing in people with disabilities is not only socially just but also economically smart.
The organisation recognises that entrepreneurship and technology offer powerful solutions to bypass systemic barriers in traditional employment, enabling people with disabilities to create their own opportunities.
“Entrepreneurs with disabilities are reshaping industries, breaking down barriers, and redefining the meaning of success,” said Jessica.
Entrepreneurs with disabilities are not just participants in the economy, they are innovators, leaders, and changemakers reshaping industries and redefining success. By supporting their ventures, implementing the relevant policies, society can unlock innovation, resilience, and untapped economic potential.
With its economic empowerment programme, Project MRKTPLCE, showcases artisan-made goods at international platforms such as the UK Black Business Show 2025, strengthening visibility and global appreciation for Ghana’s creative economy while redefining what inclusive trade can look like across Africa.
OSEI Collective continues to engage with private sector partners and stakeholders to create models and interventions that promote inclusive growth. Its work sets a powerful example for how social entrepreneurship can drive both economic development and social transformation.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
