By
Rebecca Kajelo, GNA
Bolgatanga, Sept. 15, GNA – TEERE a Non –
Governmental Organization (NGO) in partnership with the Ghana Federation of
Disability (GFD) has organized a day’s sensitization workshop to educate
stakeholders on the guidelines for the disbursement of the District Assembly
Common Fund (DACF) in Bolgatanga.
It was attended by members of the District
Fund Management Committee (DFMC), Finance Officers, District Chief Executives
(DCEs), the Regional Coordinating Director and members of the Ghana Federation
of Disability (GFD).
The President of the Upper East Regional
branch of GFD, Mr David Aniah presenting a paper on the guidelines of the
disability fund and reporting channels on issues relating to the utilization,
disbursement and management of the fund, mentioned that the DACF was aimed at
minimizing poverty among all PWDs particularly those outside the formal sector
of employment.
He added that it was further to enhance their
social image through dignified labour.
Mr Aniah urged District Fund Management
Committees (DFMC’S) to monitor and supervise the utilization of the common fund
disbursed to People with Disabilities (PWDs).
The GFD president noted that some
beneficiaries misused the fund and stressed that the fund was to support the
income generating activities of individual PWDs to enable them cater for their
needs and those of their families.
He further explained that the objectives of
the fund was to support the income generating activities of individual PWDs, to
provide educational support for children with disability, students and trainees
with disabilities and to build the capacity of Organizations of Persons with
Disability (OPWDs) in the districts.
Mr Aniah indicated that a legal provision was
made for children with disability to enjoy free education in Ghana and said
since the bill was passed, there have not been any legislation Instrument (LI)
to back the law for children with disability to access free education as
provided. He added that the law could be ratified if the various interest
groups and organizations worked together to push for its ratification.
He urged the assemblies to support those who
do not get support but have to keep updating their forms regularly and appealed
to stakeholders to help strengthen the GFD, by organizing fora and engaging
them in sensitization workshops.
He further stated that it was a requirement
for every Metropolitan Municipal and District Assembly (MMDA) to form special
committees to vet and approve applications received from PWDs and OPWDs,
monitor and supervise the utilization of the funds and to present quarterly
reports on the management of the Fund to the District Assembly and the District
National Council on Persons With Disability (NCPD) representative.
He said the committees per the guidelines are
to be made up of four permanent members, “but there is a space for the
committee to bring in co – opted members to aid in their work and no MMDA is
allowed to appoint any committee or create one”, he added.
Some stakeholders contributing to the
discussion noted that data for the PWDs, were mostly not too accurate and said
it would be unfair to release such raw data out to organizations for support,
and urged the GFD to lend the needed support to PWDs in the preparation of
their documents.
The workshop was supported by STAR Ghana with
funding from the United Kingdom Aid, the Danish International Development
Agency and the European Union.
GNA