The running mate to the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, says the next NDC government will implement policies to improve the lives of women through economic empowerment.
She said the party’s plans to establish a Women's Development Bank, an initiative designed to provide financial support tailored specifically to the needs of women entrepreneurs, were based on empirical data about women’s role in economic development.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang made the remark as she took her campaign tour across the Greater Accra Region to Ablekuma North, Okaikoi North and Dome-Kwabenya constituencies yesterday.
Dubbed: “Empowering the Ghanaian Woman through Women’s Development Bank”, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said the initiative would offer loans with flexible payment terms to women engaged in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
“This initiative is expected to benefit approximately one million women across various sectors, including food vendors, market women, bakers, hairdressers and dressmakers,” she said.
“These women, many of whom were faced with challenges in accessing traditional banking services, would now have the opportunity to secure loans under terms that consider their financial circumstances,” she added.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang visited the Mallam Atta Market; Odorkor Market, Lapaz Market and ended her tour at the Dome Market, addressing the market women at each point of the interaction.
The tour was to engage with the market women, traders, local leaders, party supporters and residents, as well as to introduce the party’s financial empowerment policies regarding traders and women to the women.
During the tour, she met the leadership of the various markets and gave them the opportunity to voice their concerns.
She was accompanied by some top officials of the party, including former appointees, past Members of Parliament and aspiring parliamentary candidates in the constituencies she visited.
Her engagements were part of the party's strategy of addressing the specific needs of various communities and highlighting the NDC's comprehensive plan for national development.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang encouraged all Ghanaians to vote the NDC into power in the December 7 general election to help to end the economic hardship in the country.
She said the NDC's flag bearer, John Dramani Mahama, had shown all Ghanaians during his previous administration that he was committed to the development of the country and its people, and cared for the ordinary Ghanaian, particularly women.
“The NDC is a party for all Ghanaians, and we are committed to implementing policies that benefit everyone,” the academic added.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stressed that it was only the NDC’s leader who could revive the country's economy and restore hope to the people of the country.