THE GRASSROOTS INNOVATION SCOUTING: AN INCLUSIVE INNOVATION APPROACH FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY

Michael Adusei-Nsowah, Fred Adusei Nsowah, Anie Allen, Samuel Andy Afari, Samuel Ofori Agyeman, Enock Yeboah

Abstract


African countries are far behind their Asian counterparts who gained independence during the same period in terms of development, industrialization and economic growth due to the innovation started by the Asian countries. Innovation has been identified as a potential economic growth and development with new discoveries in developing new products using new ways to increase productivity. In Ghana, persons with disability (PWD) are not actively involved in the innovation program. However, the Young Africa Innovates program has included a large number of PWD innovators with different solutions and challenges using a sequential explanatory approach, where questionnaires were answered by 39 PWDs drawn from the four Regions of Ghana, followed by interviews for 15 PWDs. The finding shows a percentage of 12.7 % participation of PWDs in different solution areas of agriculture, technology, manufacturing, processing energy and training. The study identified financial difficulties, further training, product development, and the Food and Drugs Board certification process as major challenges facing the PWD innovators. The study recommended workstations and mentorship support in the communities for PWDs to explore their potential in society.

 

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grassroots, innovation, scouting, persons with disabilities

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejse.v11i3.6052

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