Tema: TMA disburses GH¢207,700 disability fund to 33 beneficiaries
The Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has disbursed a total of GH¢207,700 from the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) Disability Allocation to support 33 Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the metropolis.
The Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Ebi Bright, who presented the items and cash support at a ceremony on Tuesday [December 30, 2025] said the intervention, sourced from the statutory three per cent allocation of the Common Fund, was intended to improve the socio-economic well-being of PWDs through income-generating activities, educational assistance, and medical support.
Ms. Bright expressed appreciation to beneficiaries for their cooperation over the years, noting that although more than 110 applications were received from various communities within the metropolis, limited funding made it possible to support only 33 applicants during the current disbursement.
“Because the fund is inadequate, only a few beneficiaries can be considered at a time. However, be assured that every qualified applicant will eventually have their turn,” she assured.
Breakdown of support
The MCE outlined the components of the support package as follows: educational support, GH¢11,000, medical support and assistive devices: GH¢5,000, items for income-generating activities: GH¢120,000; cash support for start-ups and other activities: GH¢58,200, and deep freezers for five beneficiaries: GH¢2,500.
Additional institutional support included GH¢7,000 to the Tema Metro Association of the Deaf and GH¢6,000 to the Tema Metro Blind Union.
Items distributed included five deep freezers, two knitting machines, and one laptop. Others are five gallons of cooking oil, four gallons of palm oil, nine 25-kilogram bags of rice, 30 large bags of charcoal, five large bags of corn dough, four large bags of cassava dough, six 25-kilogram bags of brown rice, one bag of sugar, two large bags of beans, as well as bales of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing distributed to 14 beneficiaries to boost their small-scale businesses.
Caution against misuse
Ms. Bright cautioned beneficiaries against selling the items or diverting cash support from its intended purpose, stressing that the programme was designed to promote self-reliance and economic empowerment.
She announced that a monitoring team would be deployed to assess the impact of the support on beneficiaries’ livelihoods, adding that the Assembly would continue to provide guidance to ensure sustainability.
Committee’s Assessment
The Tema Metropolitan Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, Robert Mensah Gbley, said the programme focuses on empowering PWDs in vocational skills development, medical care and education.
He revealed that past monitoring exercises showed mixed results, with some beneficiaries productively using the support, while others either left items unused or sold them.
“Those who sell the items or misuse the support will not be considered for future assistance,” he warned.
Chairman of the Disability Fund Management Committee
National Perspective
Acting National Coordinator, National Council for Persons with Disabilities, Joshua Adi, commended the current government for rolling a number of policies and initiatives aimed at ensuring total inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs).
He cited free tertiary education for persons with disabilities as one of the key interventions, explaining that PWDs who gain admission into tertiary institutions were exempted from paying tuition fees. He also mentioned the ongoing review of the Persons with Disabilities Act, which seeks to promote the full inclusion of PWDs in all aspects of national life.
Mr. Adi further disclosed that the Common Fund allocation for persons with disabilities has been increased from three per cent to five per cent, a move expected to significantly expand coverage and support more beneficiaries nationwide.
According to him, these interventions were designed to ensure that persons with disabilities lived dignified and productive lives, while contributing meaningfully to national development.
“No nation can grow and develop without persons with disabilities. For Ghana to achieve full growth, persons with disabilities must contribute their quota to GDP growth,” he said.
He urged beneficiaries to make effective use of the items and equipment received to engage in viable economic activities including trading, tailoring and graphic design.
Mr. Adi added that productive use of the support would not only improve individual livelihoods but also promote job creation, inclusion and the government’s 24-hour economy agenda, enabling beneficiaries to earn income continuously while contributing to the broader economy.
Writer's email benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh
