By Sampson Manu
Adansi Akrofoum (Ash), Oct. 11, GNA – Persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the Adansi Akrofoum, have commended the district assembly for showing greater transparency and fairness in the disbursement of the disability funds.
Scores of PWDs who spoke to the Ghana News Agency during the third disbursement of the fund at Akrofoum, said the Assembly had since 2018 been consistent in supporting people with disabilities to improve their livelihoods.
They were particularly pleased with the mode the items were procured, stressing that they were based on pressing needs of individual beneficiaries and not the wishes and assumptions of the Assembly.
By statute, three percent of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) quarterly released to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) is earmarked for Persons With Disability.
The fund goes to support economic activities; educational and health expenses; support disability organisations and purchase assistive devices and aids for persons with disabilities.
Until President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo increased the share to three percent, the allocation constituted two percent of the District Assembly Common Fund.
The Akrofuom district assembly in its third disbursement of the year, presented fridges, wheelchairs, hairdryers, spraying machines and others 13 persons living with disabilities to support their businesses and empower them economically.
Some were also given medical and educational support.
The items were procured at the cost of GH 50,000.00.
Dr Maurice Jonas Wood, the District Chief Executive, speaking at the ceremony, said the Assembly had been diligent in releasing the disability fund to the beneficiaries since the district was created in 2018.
He said the Assembly undertakes periodic needs assessment to ascertain the pressing needs of the PWDs in the district.
He said the purpose of the fund was to empower the beneficiaries to improve their livelihoods.
To ensure the items were used for their intended purpose, the Akrofuom DCE said a committee had been set up to monitor how the beneficiaries use the items received.
“The feedback from our monitoring team is that the items donated have succeeded in changing the lives of the beneficiaries.
“Now, you hardly see disable persons begging on the streets,” Dr. Woode added.
He urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the items to help improve on their living conditions.
GNA