About 95 percent of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Obuasi municipal area have sources of livelihood due to the impact of the Disability Fund, according to Elijah Adansi-Bonah, the Municipal Chief Executive.
Three percent of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF), released quarterly to the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), is allocated for the welfare of PWDs.
Speaking at a ceremony to present items to some PWDs in Obuasi, the MCE said the Fund had supported many PWDs in the municipality who previously had no means of livelihood and were forced to beg on roadsides for survival.
In total, 21 people received various items, including knitting machines, fufu pounding machines, and industrial sewing machines, while others received educational and medical support.
To ensure that the items are used for their intended purposes, each item has been embossed to prevent the beneficiaries from selling them.
According to Mr. Adansi-Bonah, the Fund has significantly impacted the lives of PWDs, enabling them to engage in various economic activities after receiving support to establish their own businesses.
He said the Fund aims to provide social protection for PWDs and urged beneficiaries to use the support wisely to achieve self-reliance.
Karim Iddrisu, the President of the Obuasi chapter of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations (GFD), thanked the government for the valuable intervention.
He appealed to the Electoral Commission (EC) to implement measures that make it easier for persons with disabilities to vote in the upcoming elections.
He noted that some members in the past had to join long queues to vote, causing inconvenience and discouraging many from participating.
“We as PWDs always believe in democracy since it is the only way we can be part of governance processes and be heard. So we are appealing to the EC to make it easier for our members to participate in the process,” he said.
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