As part of the PERD project, seventy-one Women and Girls with disabilities (WGDs)  and twenty-four men from communities in the Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam district, Gomoa West District and Mfantsiman Municipal Assembly have been equipped with some soft skills. Of the women, we had 44 physically disabled, 11 deaf and 16 visually impaired. The women in attendance were trained hairdressers, dressmakers, traders, S.H.S leavers, University graduates and self-employed. The training was to enable them develop their self-confidence, build their communication skills and to make informed choices on issues that concerns them especially with regards to their livelihoods and rights.

The GFD leaders of the various implementing districts and Municipal Assembly chaired the training. Ms. Alswell Appiah the field coordinator for WIN introduced WIN. She mentioned the organisation, outlined the vision, mission and objectives. She continued with the Promoting Equal Rights for women and Girls with Disabilities (PERD) project. She went to expatiate on the project goals, objectives and outcomes. She mentioned the donor, other implementing partners, their zone of operation and the implementation period.

Ms. Alswell Appiah the field coordinator for WIN delivered training on good communication and leadership skills. She explained what communication is, she emphasized that communication must be target at achieving a purpose and the information being communicated should reach intended audience. She explained the types of communication, some barriers to communication. She concluded by saying planning informs effective communication.

The next session was on leadership. Women’s ideas are often left unsaid or unheard, even when women are present during discussions and decision-making, Ms. Appiah encouraged the women to be open to leadership positions and opportunities and admonished the men to support the women when they run for leadership position. She highlighted on the types of leadership styles; dictatorial leadership passive leadership and democratic leadership. Ms. Appiah advised that as women leaders, adopting one style of leadership may not be effective therefore depending on the situation at hand, leaders may have to blend two or more leadership styles in other to be effective in carrying out their duties. Good leadership involves making decisions that benefit all, good leaders learn from others and listen to their subordinates. The qualities of a good leader visionary, accountable, integrity and good communication. She ended both sessions by explaining the need to know the importance of communication and how it’s a key skill to being a good leader.

Madam Abigail Addo Quaye also spoke on building their confidence, learning to speak in public and developing negotiation and decision-making skills. She defined self-esteem as believing in yourself and what you can do and confidence is the ability to do something and express yourself in certainty. She emphasized that how you see yourself builds your self-esteem, when you think the best of yourself, that is how other people see you. The participants were engaging, they expressed their delight in learning such important soft skills. One of the women among the participants said the presentation has been useful to her. She expressed “I am very happy I came here today. I have learned to be confident and see myself as an important personality, I am not going to regard myself as a sick person or an incapable person.”

Madam Abigail Addo Quaye also spoke on building their confidence, learning to speak in public and developing negotiation and decision-making skills. She defined self-esteem as believing in yourself and what you can do and confidence is the ability to do something and express yourself in certainty. She emphasized that how you see yourself builds your self-esteem, when you think the best of yourself, that is how other people see you. The participants were engaging, they expressed their delight in learning such important soft skills. One of the women among the participants said the presentation has been useful to her. She expressed “I am very happy I came here today. I have learned to be confident and see myself as an important personality, I am not going to regard myself as a sick person or an incapable person.”

Madam Abigail Addo Quaye also spoke on building their confidence, learning to speak in public and developing negotiation and decision-making skills. She defined self-esteem as believing in yourself and what you can do and confidence is the ability to do something and express yourself in certainty. She emphasized that how you see yourself builds your self-esteem, when you think the best of yourself, that is how other people see you. The participants were engaging, they expressed their delight in learning such important soft skills. One of the women among the participants said the presentation has been useful to her. She expressed “I am very happy I came here today. I have learned to be confident and see myself as an important personality, I am not going to regard myself as a sick person or an incapable person.”

After the training presentations, Madam Comfort Arko a support champion at Gomoa West used herself as case study for the others around. She stated that regardless of her disability, she is able to lead the women’s group in her church. She encouraged the other women to make themselves available and accept roles when assigned to them.

GFD leaders were encouraged to give leadership positions in their various associations to the women and help them carry out their duties.