The Ada West District Assembly in the Greater Accra Region has disbursed funds and items to 63 persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the district to support their livelihoods and promote social inclusion.
The support, drawn from the three per cent allocation of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund earmarked for PWDs, included tools and equipment for small-scale businesses, 19 deep freezers, educational assistance, health support, assistive devices and seed capital for entrepreneurial activities.
The items were selected based on the specific needs of the beneficiaries following consultations, vetting and needs assessments carried out by the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development in collaboration with the District Disability Fund Management Committee.
The District Chief Executive, John Jerry Foreigner Mills Nkrumah Modjifa Tanihu, said the assembly viewed the empowerment of persons with disabilities not as charity, but as a recognition of their rights and an investment in the district’s development.
He explained that the intervention was aimed at enhancing the economic independence and social inclusion of PWDs and encouraged beneficiaries to make good use of the support provided.
Mr Tanihu noted that the distribution covered various categories, including economic and business support for 27 persons, equipment support for 22 persons, educational support for nine persons, and health and assistive device support for five persons.
The District Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, Mr Philip Dotse, urged beneficiaries to remain transparent and cooperative during monitoring exercises to ensure accountability and the sustainability of the programme.
He expressed concern that some beneficiaries had, in the past, denied receiving support during post-disbursement monitoring, describing the situation as one that undermines the efforts of the assembly and the government.
Mr Dotse therefore advised applicants and beneficiaries to engage their assembly members and the Social Welfare Department whenever challenges arise to ensure effective communication and timely support.
The Acting National Coordinator of the National Council for Persons with Disability (NCPD), Joshua Addy, cautioned beneficiaries against misusing the funds and items, warning that such actions could deprive other deserving persons of future assistance.
“Do not use these funds for things that will not bring long-term benefits,” he said.
Some beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the assembly and the government for the continued support aimed at improving their livelihoods and well-being.
Source: GNA
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