The items included sewing machines, embroidery machines, over lock machines, hand dryers, hairdryers as well as sterilisers are aimed at assisting the artisans to expand their businesses and improve their income -earning capacity.
“Today, we are here in Tamale, to touch the lives of the artisans, and proprietors of the Tailors, Beauticians and Barbers associations and to support our brothers and sisters, to realise their full potentials” the First Lady Mrs Lordina Mahama said.
She said under her Foundation, similar distribution of items had taken her team to a number of regions and districts all over the country to assist the recipients as a means of complementing the efforts of governments
She described the Northern Region as her home since she spent most of her childhood, adolescent and early womanhood years there though she comes from the Brong- Ahafo Region, saying: “It is therefore important that I also give back to you some of the blessings my husband and I have received from this region.”
Mrs Mahama said government also considers the development of key infrastructure, critical to the social and economic advancement of our people and that was why only recently, the President was in the north to inspect important projects on his “accounting to the people tour”.
The heavy investment in infrastructure, as evidenced in the roads, education, health, water, and electricity sectors, are meant to open up the region for investments, which not only boost the local economy, but also fast-track over-all development in the region, she said.
She explained that in today’s global world and with the nation’s desire to develop, “the importance of skilled labour is important and that is the reason, the government continues to transform and diversify the economy, to provide enormous opportunities, for young people with technical and vocational training.
She however said since government alone could not realize that vision without the support of charitable institutions and other stakeholders, the Lordina Foundation has adopted as one of its important module the provision of skills and vocational training, to create opportunities for girls and women.
“At programmes such as this, we present trainees with tools of their trade, including sewing machines, hair dryers, over-lock machines, designing machines, and many other equipment, with which they can begin life as small entrepreneurs” the First Lady said.
She urged those in the beauty industry, who wish to be successful to embark on continuous learning and training, asking them to constantly update their knowledge on new trends, and always stay a step ahead.
The new trend for small and medium enterprises is to offer one-stop services, she said, therefore, a business offering a wide range of services, under one roof, usually has a huge advantage, over those who offer only one or two types of services.
“While you can specialise on one main area; giving your clients the convenience of a one-stop beauty shop, can set your business apart from your competitors,” she said.
She advised the artisans to learn to come together, as joint businesses, so they could offer a full range of services, which would make them impact bigger and be able to exploit all the opportunities available to them.
Mrs Mahama also expressed appreciation to the Embassy of China, the First Lady of Turkey, and numerous other sponsors for assisting the Lordina Foundation to make the donation of valuable items to citizens possible.
Alhaji Yusef Dauda, Regional Chairman of the Ghana National Traders and Dressmakers Association, Ms Hajara Bawa, President of Northern Regional Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association, Mr Suleiman Ahmed, Regional President of Barbers Association and Ms Eunice Agbeka, Regional President of the Ghana Progressive Hairdressers Association received the items from the First Lady on behalf of their members.
Source: GNA/News Ghana
