Some 54 women, including nine persons living with disabilities, in Sekondi-Takoradi, in the Western Region, have received skills training in mushroom production and soap making, along with start-up support.  The training was provided by the Network of Women in Growth Ghana (NEWIG Ghana) and funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation. The three-day training, held in collaboration with the Aseda Foundation, offered participants hands-on experience in trades, and was intended to uplift women facing socio-economic challenges, including those with disabilities. Participants were awarded certificates and provided with start-up kits to support the establishment of their own businesses, fostering self-reliance and entrepreneurship. Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Ms. Mawulawoe Awity, the Executive Director of NEWIG Ghana, said it was crucial to note that women constituted a significant portion of Ghana's population, hence the need to empower women with skills to generate income for supporting their families and com munities. 'This project, funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation, will provide all participants with start-up kits after their training, enabling them to begin their ventures and fully benefit from the skills they have acquired,' she reiterated. She expressed hope that the beneficiaries would leverage on the skills gained and the start-up support to immediately start their businesses, and that NEWIG Ghana would continue to monitor and provide support to the beneficiaries. Ms Awity said the project, which began in January, had already shown positive results in Accra and was expected to continue impacting other regions.  She said the initiative highlighted the effectiveness of targeted support for marginalised groups and the value of strategic partnerships.  Ms Diana Adjei, Chief Executive Officer of Aseda Foundation, underscored the importance of such initiatives in empowering women financially.  'The vision is to empower women with skills to support their households financially, which is why we welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with NEWIG Ghana to organise these training sessions for our women.'  She advised the participants to fully utilise the skills and start-up kits they had received and to train others.  The Chief Executive Officer encouraged persons with disabilities to take the opportunity to contribute through their associations so they, could support their families and the country as a whole. Ms. Lisa Forson, Senior Field Officer and Project Assistant, said the training was part of the 'Economic Inclusion of Marginalised Women Living in Urban Centers' project, which aimed at empowering 300 women in Accra, Sekondi-Takoradi, Kumasi, and Tamale with skills in mushroom production, snail farming, and soap making.  Additionally, she said the project sought to provide business management training to 2,500 women.  Emelia Mensah, a beneficiary of the training, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity.  'When I heard about the opportunity to learn soap-making and mushroom farming, I joined immediat ely, now I have learnt how to make soap, a product we all use daily.' 'As I have gone through this training and been given start-up kits, I am committed to taking this seriously. I plan to train others in my community and earn a living from this skill,' she said. Source: Ghana News Agency