Stories of change from GEOP
Growing Economic Opportunities for Sustainable Development in Ghana, from Christian Aid Ghana
The Growing Economic Opportunities for Sustainable Development (GEOP) project aims to promote job creation.
The project works across three districts in two regions in Ghana, strengthening civil society and fostering partnerships with local authorities.
Funded by the European Union and Christian Aid, the €947,000 project began last year and has already positively impacted local communities and created change in the lives of people with disabilities across Ghana.
The project will run until 2019.
Empowering people with disabilities to live dignified lives
Amina Issah Ebanyinle, 42
Amina lives in Kamgbunli community, in the western region of Ghana, with her three children.
Amina was born with a disability and life has been difficult for her as she has to work hard and care for her family.
Life before the project
Participating in bead-making training, Amina was involved in the needs assessment process and selection of people with disabilities (PWDs) for the vocational skills training of the GEOP project.
Together with other PWDs, the project trained Amina and her colleagues on how to produce necklaces, bracelets, earrings and slippers using beads.
‘The training was extremely important as it has given me a source of livelihood to cater for my family’
To create a niche for her in the market, Amina has so far focused on using beads to design female slippers.
She distributes the finished products to her PWD colleagues who own shops in neighbouring communities.
Life after training
Amina has so far produced 41 slippers and sold 32. She has so far recorded a profit of GHS 85 from the business over a period of two months.
She aspires to train other interested PWDs in neighbouring communities on how to use beads and she dreams of growing her business and exporting her products to La Cote D’Ivoire and other countries within the West Africa sub-region.
‘Participating in the training was the best decision in my life as I can now use my hands to work and provide the basic needs of my family.’
Teach a man… how to produce shoes!
Kaku Famiyuh, 40
Kaku has four children and lives with his wife in Nkroful, in the Ellembelle district or western Ghana.
Life has been difficult for Kaku with very limited employment opportunities for young people and PWDs.
Life before the project
Kaku, born with a disability, works as a cobbler to provide for his family. He produces sandals and slippers and repairs shoes.
As a result of his good services, Kaku has a massive customer base and he has gained admiration from a lot of people in the district.
Kaku had received numerous orders from customers to produce shoes but because he lacked the requisite skills, he lost some of his loyal customers.
When he heard about the training for PWDs in leather work as part of the GEOP project, Kaku registered his interest and participated in the needs assessment conducted by the project team.
Life after the training
Prior to the training, Kaku was earning an average monthly income of GHS 200 from his business. He now makes an average monthly income of GHS 300 as a result of adding shoe production to his business.
He has so far produced and sold 30 shoes after the training and importantly, he is meeting the demands of his customers.
Kaku dreams of expanding his business to employ other PWDs within the district. He has opened a business account and is looking to use his savings to get a loan and expand his business operations not only in Nkroful but to other neighbouring districts.
‘The training on how to produce shoes and boots has improved my skills a lot. I can now produce different types of shoes and boots to meet the needs of my cherished customers.’
The Growing Economic Opportunities for Sustainable Development project (GEOP) is a three-year, EU-funded project that aims to foster strong partnerships between civil society and local authorities, to promote local job creation, revenue mobilisation and expansion of economic activities.
The project is implemented in the Ellembelle District, Western Region, and Ayawaso East and Ablekuma South sub-metros of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Ghana.
Find out more about the Find out more about the GEOP project at caid.org.uk/GEOP.
Read in more about Christian Aid’s work
Christian Aid’s work in Ghana >
This content was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Christian Aid and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
