By: Hamza Lansah Lolly
The Tolon District Assembly through the Department of Social Welfare has disbursed three percent (3%) share of the District Assembly Common Fund to Persons with Disabilities.
A total of Ninety Three thousand, Three Hundred and Four-eight Ghana Cedis (93,348) was disbursed to fifty-one (51) PWDs who applied for assistance to improve their livelihoods.
The disbursement was in various categories, including education, hearth, business, mobility, aide devices and PWDs groups.
The District Assembly Common Fund for Persons with Disabilities seeks to provide educational/ training support for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) as well as giving them medical /health support to make them functional in life.
The fund supports PWDs with capital to venture into income generating activities.
The fund again was established to reduce poverty and enhance social inclusion and so far provides various forms of assistance to people living with disabilities.
A Disability Fund Management Committee (DFMC) at each assembly manages applications and the disbursement of the funds, although challenges exist regarding timely fund transfers and ensuring the fund’s effective use for its intended purposes.
The Tolon District Director of Social Welfare, Mr. Micheal Deku disbursing the funds noted that, the fund managers did due diligence to the allocations of the fund, reiterating that, all applications were vetted and approved.
According to him, the allocations of fund to the PWDs is based on their request, “it is not a uniform amount giving to them, some have taken 4000, others 3000 and 2000, 1500, 1000 in that order”.
Mr. Deku added that, the allocation of the funds to the beneficiaries are not the same because of each beneficiary request and situation.
He hinted that, some applicants want a support to expand their businesses, others wants to start a business, thus the allocation of funds will not be the same.
He said, the support for education is minimal because it is recurrent, “so money for PWDs in the special schools are minimal because they keep on coming and we continue to support them”,adding that, “what we give them is not the school fees especial those in the basic school”.
The Social Welfare Director again hinted that, the 3% Common Fund for Persons with Disability also covers the movement of the PWDs and their aides.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the District Chief Executive for Tolon, Hon Seidu Braimah said, the NDC government takes the issues of the vulnerable seriously especially people living with disabilities. He added that, it is an obligation on the part of the government to support people living with disability and through the department of Social Welfare and Community. Development.
Hon Braimah urged the beneficiaries to use the funds for the intended purpose.
A beneficiary of the fund, Mr. Mohammed Zakaria expressed his profound gratitude to the government for the support, pledging that he will use the money for the intended purpose.
Mr. Zakaria who is also the Vice Chairman of the PWDs in the Tolon District urged colleagues beneficiaries not to divert the funds to unimportant ventures.
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