By Christine Naadu Lartey
Tema, July 8, GNA – The Tema Metropolitan Department of Social Welfare and Community Development has commenced a four-day re-registration exercise for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to create an accurate database for improved disbursement of the Disability Common Fund and enhanced emergency response services.
Mr Robert Mensah Gbley, Head of the Tema Metropolitan Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, said the exercise was aimed at updating records that lacked essential information such as Ghana Card details, Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates and Ghana Post digital addresses.
He said the exercise followed a directive from the Greater Accra Regional Minister after a visit to the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), which revealed the need to update the department’s database.
According to him, a reliable database would ensure effective management of the Disability Common Fund while strengthening disaster preparedness and response efforts.
Mr Gbley explained that during flooding and other emergencies, the department was often required to provide information on affected PWDs to facilitate the distribution of relief items.
“Having accurate information is about more than just managing money; it is vital for emergency relief,” he said.
He said the exercise, being conducted with support from disability advocacy groups, the Disability Fund Management Committee and assembly members, covered both the Tema Central and Tema East sub-metropolitan areas.
Mr Gbley said registration in the first two days focused on the Tema Central Sub-Metro and Community One, while the remaining two days would cover the Tema East Sub-Metro, including Tema New Town and surrounding communities.
He described the turnout as encouraging, noting that 70 PWDs were registered on the first day, while an additional 30 had registered by midday on the second day.
As part of the exercise, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is providing free registration and renewal services for participants.
Mr Gbley said the department was mandated to register indigent PWDs onto the NHIS at no cost to enable them to access healthcare services.
He appealed to all PWDs who were yet to register to take advantage of the exercise and update their records.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/Lydia Kukua Asamoah