A GNA feature By Laudia Sawer
Tema, Oct 05, GNA – Eric Mensah, a resident of Tema Community One Site 21, contracted polio as a child, leaving his right leg paralysed.
Despite this early setback, Eric refused to let his disability define his future.
Eric embarked on a journey to gain financial independence by tapping into his passion for creativity and craftsmanship, learning and setting himself up in slippers manufacturing an upgrade of his childhood cobbler trade.
Specialising in locally designed bead slippers, as well as handmade leather bags and belts, Eric’s work has gained admiration within his community. His unique designs, infused with bright colours and traditional patterns, represent both cultural pride and entrepreneurial spirit.
He also offers repair services for shoes and bags, further expanding his client base and reinforcing his position as a skilled artisan.
As a married man, Eric hopes to inspire others with disabilities to seek economic freedom and abandon the culture of dependency and begging. He envisions a future where more disabled individuals, like himself, will be entrepreneurs instead of beggars.
Aminatu Imoro, a disabled woman, just like Eric, believes there is joy in working that begging, therefore selling a number of items in her container at the Ashaiman market.
The Disability Common Fund played a pivotal role in Eric’s and Aminatu’s transition from dependency to self-sufficiency.
With the capital provided by the fund, Eric was able to purchase materials and tools needed to grow his business, while Aminatu bought a freezer for her shop.
In just a few years, their businesses have grown into sustainable enterprises that not only support them financially but also showcase the potential of persons with disabilities when given the opportunity to thrive.
Eric hopes to shift perceptions by demonstrating that persons with disabilities can make valuable contributions to the economy when supported with the right tools and opportunities.
The Disability Fund, a scheme established under the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715). This initiative aims to provide financial assistance and training to persons with disabilities (PWDs) to empower them economically. The fund is a critical lifeline for PWDs who, like Eric, desire to live a life of dignity and self-reliance, breaking away from the culture of begging that has been, for too long, a sad reality for many.
Disability Fund
The Disability Fund was established as part of Ghana’s commitment to inclusive development. It aligns with the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1, which focusses on ending poverty in all its forms everywhere.
The fund seeks to address the economic marginalisation of persons with disabilities (PWDs) by providing them with the financial resources to start businesses, acquire skills, or access education and healthcare services. By doing so, it feeds directly into SDG 8, which promotes inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for all, including those with disabilities.
The Disability Fund, which is administered by the Social Welfare and Community Development, is three percent of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).
Beneficiaries used to receive cash disbursement; however, in its current form, selected disabled people now receive equipment, tools, and materials to either start a business or expand their already existing ones.
Socio-economic impact of supporting PWDs
The economic empowerment of PWDs through the Disability Fund has far-reaching implications, not only for the beneficiaries themselves but also for their families, dependents, and the broader community.
As Eric’s story shows, economic independence allows PWDs to provide for their families, breaking the cycle of poverty that often plagues households with disabled members.
Empowering PWDs economically also helps reduce inequality within the country, as integrating PWDs into the workforce and supporting their entrepreneurial ventures, hence the Disability Fund plays a pivotal role in reducing the social and economic disparities that have long marginalised the disabled population.
Challenges of the fund
Eric and other PWDs say challenges such as delay in disbursement and limited support are challenges that are derailing the vision of the fund.
Aminatu, for instance, stated that “I didn’t apply again because when you apply, the disbursement keeps too long. I know a number of disabled people who applied but need to wait for too long.
Mr. Courage Womeno, the Ashaiman District representative of the disabled, says the social intervention, even though scanty, has helped the association to take over 10 PWDs from the street and set them up in business.
He noted that Ashaiman has over 4000 disables but receives about GHs24,000 quarterly, questioning, “How do we share such an amount with such a huge number? The resources are not much for us to really impact into them, but the little we are having, we ensure they use it well and also employ others.”
Conclusion
The Disability Fund stands as a beacon of hope for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Ghana, offering them the means to achieve economic independence and contribute meaningfully to society.
For individuals like Eric Mensah and Aminatu, this fund has been instrumental in breaking the cycle of dependency, providing the financial support needed to launch businesses and live with dignity. However, as the fund’s current limitations are becoming increasingly apparent, calls for increased allocations and more streamlined disbursement processes grow louder.
Addressing these concerns is crucial to realising the fund’s full potential, not just for PWDs but for their families and communities. In alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on poverty alleviation and reduced inequalities, strengthening the Disability Fund can ensure that no one is left behind in Ghana’s quest for inclusive growth.
It’s time to reimagine the future for persons with disabilities, transforming their economic empowerment into a force for national development and equity.
GNA