FDA Supports First Factory for People with Physical Disabilities

Business news for Monday, November 30, 2020

Source: Business 24

2020-11-30

The Food and Drug Authority (FDA) has assured its support to companies and entities that work with people living with disabilities (PLWD)

FDA Executive Director Ms. Delese Darko said the support is intended to ensure the growth of local businesses and provide endless opportunity and hope to all people with physical disabilities across the country.

He made this comment at the launch of the National Social Development Awards and the launch of the first factory employing people living with disabilities by the Ghana Dreams Disability Development Foundation (GDDDF).

The event had two objectives: first to reward and promote people who have contributed greatly to the social development of the country and second to launch and raise funds to support the maintenance of the Foundation’s machinery and other logistics.

The GDDDF, a local natural fruit juice beverage producer located in Kasoa Ofankor, will officially begin operations in December this year. To start with, the Foundation will employ 60 people, of whom 40 have physical disabilities.

At full capacity, GDDDF will employ a total of 5,000 disabled people to work in various departments of the factory.

People with physical disabilities and disabilities are one of the largest oppressed groups in Ghana. There are an estimated 8 million disabled people living in Ghana, representing nearly 20 percent of the 30 million inhabitants.

Currently only one per cent of the physically disabled are employed in Ghana. They include victims of mental health, the visually impaired and the physically disabled.

Although the government introduced a policy to employ 50 per cent of all the physically disabled in the various toll booths across the country, the number of these people exceeds the total number of toll booths which is around just over 200 in Ghana .

However, this FDA-backed GDDDF initiative, in line with the government’s flagship initiative, One District, One Factory (1D1F), is touted as one of the safest measures to reduce the percentage of unemployment among people with disabilities. physical in Ghana.

Addressing the dignitaries at the factory launch, Ms. Delese Darko pledged FDA support through technical supports and reduced fees to help facilitate the growth of local industries, particularly those that employ people with physical disabilities.

Ms. Darko advised the Foundation to ensure that they adhere to good manufacturing practices. He said that it is a priority of the FDA for each company with a PLS license to progress higher from its current level to the advanced level, as this would contribute to realizing the industrialization agenda in Ghana.

Richard Offei, CEO and founder of GDDDF expressed his gratitude to the FDA for the PLS innovation that has enabled the hassle-free and free registration of its natural fruit beverage product.

In fact, the GDDDF is part of the FDA’s Progressive Licensing Program, from which 56 SMEs obtained licenses in July of this year to produce local products that meet international standards to generate employment, earn income and prosper the fortunes of companies SMEs.