The Technical Committee for the proposed Women’s Development Bank has pledged to make disability inclusion a foundational pillar of the new institution, following a high-level engagement recently at the Jubilee House.
The leadership of VOWACGhana engaged the committee to ensure that female entrepreneurs with disabilities are not sidelined when the new bank rolls out.
Following the deliberations, the Technical Committee announced five transformative commitments:
1. Accessibility Audits: The Bank will engage disability organisations to conduct audits of all physical infrastructure and service delivery points.
2. Communication for the Deaf: Introducing specialised customer service mechanisms and communication support for women who are deaf or hard of hearing.
3. A Quota System: Exploring a dedicated quota system to reserve financial products, entrepreneurship programmes, and employment roles specifically for women with disabilities.
4. Digital IT Integration: Ensuring all online and electronic banking services are usable by persons with various types of disabilities from the outset.
5. Monitoring & Data: Developing a framework to track participation through disaggregated data to ensure accountability in PWD inclusion.
The Committee expressed a determination to ensure the Women’s Development Bank serves as a national model for inclusive economic empowerment, moving away from the traditional charity model toward a rights-based financial system.
Leadership from VOWACGhana applauded the outcome of the Jubilee House engagement, describing the Technical Committee’s concrete pledges as a major step in the right direction toward ending financial exclusion in Ghana.
Programmes Manager for VOWACGhana, Patience Atuah, noted that translating these pledges into practice will mark the beginning of true economic empowerment for female traders and entrepreneurs with disabilities.
“Our meeting at the Jubilee House was deliberate and highly productive,” Atuah stated. “The Technical Committee’s commitments represent a significant step in the right direction. We look forward to an inclusive financial rollout that ensures ALL women benefit, regardless of disability, when the bank officially opens its doors.”
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
