Suame Municipal Assembly disburses GH¢85,126 to 59 PWDs

The Department of Social Welfare and Community Development (DSWCD) of the Suame Municipal Assembly (SMA) has disbursed funds from its annual quota of Disability Fund to 59 Persons with Disability (PWDs) to empower them.

The beneficiaries received various packages including economic/capital (GHC17,500), education (GHC19,000), medical support (GHC14,000), as well as business startup-tools such as refrigerators and  sewing machines (GHC34,626) among others at presentation ceremony, which coincided with the International Day for PWDs,  last Wednesday.

Ms. Ayisha Mohammed, Head of DSWCD, disclosed that the welfare of PWDs is “very important” to the government, hence the implementation of the Disability Fund in 2006 to help PWDs to integrate into society devoid of stigmatisation.

She urged beneficiaries to use the money or tools received for the intended-purpose to inspire government to do more, noting that after six months, a monitoring team will follow-up to ensure that the disbursement had prudently been used

Frank Owusu Ansah, Chief Executive Officer of SMA thanked the staff of DSWCD for the disbursement, advising beneficiaries not to condescend themselves because of their disability, which is no fault of theirs, emphasising that “disability is not inability”.

The Municipal Chief Executive underscored the importance of PWDs to President John Dramani Mahama and his government.

According to him, the allocation of disability funds to the PWDs under the District Assemblies Common Fund has increased from three per cent to five per cent, effective 2026.

Frank Owusu Ansah advised beneficiaries to use the fund for their intended-purpose to help the socio-economic development of the municipality and the nation as a whole, urging PWDs not to resort to begging for alms, but register to benefit from the Disability Fund.

Mr. Emmanuel Obour Boateng, Chairman of the Suame Constituency branch of Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD), thanked the government and SMA for the disbursement of the fund and the increase from three to four percent of the Disability Fund.

He urged all PWDs within SMA to register as members of the GFD to enjoy the benefits of the Fund.

The chairman further pleaded with the government to institute a quota for PWDs in public employment and civil servants, noting that many PWDs are degree holders or graduates, but cannot secure jobs due to stigmatisation and marginalisation.

From Oswald P. Freiku, Kumasi

 

For more news, join The Chronicle Newspaper channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBSs55E50UqNPvSOm2z

The post Suame Municipal Assembly disburses GH¢85,126 to 59 PWDs appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.

Read Full Story