How we are closing the financial inclusion gap for marginalized groups in the Volta Region
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November 2, 2020On Saturday, October 24, 2020, we held a feedback event as part of the economic advocacy project by the Social Enterprise Ghana, Reach for Change, Ghana supported by ForumSyd (Now ForumCIV). The purpose of the project was to build the capacity of leaders of Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) that work closely with the youth, women, and disable in the Ho Municipality on how to effectively advocate and support their beneficiaries/members to access their economic rights and improve livelihoods. The feedback session is the climax of the three months advocacy training which started in August 2020.
The event took place at the Ho Municipal Assembly Hall. Seventeen participants and two State Agencies attended the interactive event. The beneficiary organizations present were the Ghana National Association of Beauticians and Hairdressers- Ho Branch, Ho Sentinels Lions Club, Zena Foundation, Viviana Lebenam Foundation, Geohebeth Lines, Enamourd Foundation, and GCFDA.
The feedback session was designed to collate responses of NGOs on their members' visits to the selected state agencies to access their economic rights. The participants shared their experiences (challenges progress and successes) on their visits to NBSSI, Social Welfare, Municipal Assembly, and GRA- TIN Offices. The event also allowed participants and duty bearers to address issues that were not covered during the Policy Dialogue.
Representatives from the Ghana Revenue Authority Small Tax Office and the Social Welfare Department responded to some of the challenges raised by the participants. During the Policy Dialogue, participants identified poor customer relationship by the GRA officials as the key barrier to accessing the Tax Identification Number (TIN). The TIN is now a mandatory requirement in accessing banking services across the country. It is worth noting that 40% of the participants were able to go through the process to help their members acquire their Tax Identification Numbers. This means an increasing number of youth, women, and disabled within our community can now walk to any financial institution to register for a bank account. This financial inclusiveness will help them access financial services such as the Government's SME support, bank advisory, and loan facilities to help improve their operations and standard of living.
Also, beneficiary organizations empowering the youth through skills training engaged the Social Welfare Department to redesign their support programmes to be youth friendly, and register their beneficiaries for national certification examinations.
The feedback session for the project will continue till the end of the year. This is to ensure that all beneficiary organisations get access to their economic rights. Twenty beneficiaries will be selected to receive direct support from our partner Social Enterprise Ghana. We believe this support will further improve the standard of living of women, youth, and the vulnerable in the Volta Region.
The event took place at the Ho Municipal Assembly Hall. Seventeen participants and two State Agencies attended the interactive event. The beneficiary organizations present were the Ghana National Association of Beauticians and Hairdressers- Ho Branch, Ho Sentinels Lions Club, Zena Foundation, Viviana Lebenam Foundation, Geohebeth Lines, Enamourd Foundation, and GCFDA.
The feedback session was designed to collate responses of NGOs on their members' visits to the selected state agencies to access their economic rights. The participants shared their experiences (challenges progress and successes) on their visits to NBSSI, Social Welfare, Municipal Assembly, and GRA- TIN Offices. The event also allowed participants and duty bearers to address issues that were not covered during the Policy Dialogue.
Representatives from the Ghana Revenue Authority Small Tax Office and the Social Welfare Department responded to some of the challenges raised by the participants. During the Policy Dialogue, participants identified poor customer relationship by the GRA officials as the key barrier to accessing the Tax Identification Number (TIN). The TIN is now a mandatory requirement in accessing banking services across the country. It is worth noting that 40% of the participants were able to go through the process to help their members acquire their Tax Identification Numbers. This means an increasing number of youth, women, and disabled within our community can now walk to any financial institution to register for a bank account. This financial inclusiveness will help them access financial services such as the Government's SME support, bank advisory, and loan facilities to help improve their operations and standard of living.
Also, beneficiary organizations empowering the youth through skills training engaged the Social Welfare Department to redesign their support programmes to be youth friendly, and register their beneficiaries for national certification examinations.
The feedback session for the project will continue till the end of the year. This is to ensure that all beneficiary organisations get access to their economic rights. Twenty beneficiaries will be selected to receive direct support from our partner Social Enterprise Ghana. We believe this support will further improve the standard of living of women, youth, and the vulnerable in the Volta Region.
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