The Ablekuma North Municipal Assembly in the Greater Accra Region has presented working tools and GH¢142,500 in financial support to 61 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the municipality to enhance their livelihoods and promote economic independence.
The support, provided through the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development under the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) allocation for PWDs, was presented at a ceremony held at the forecourt of the assembly last Monday.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Kalamu Musah Adamu, and the Municipal Coordinating Director (MCD), Vera Akuffo-Mante, led the presentation.
The ceremony was attended by traditional leaders, members of the clergy, Zongo community leaders, and heads of departments and units of the assembly. It was organised in collaboration with the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD).
Livelihood support
The beneficiaries received working tools and financial assistance based on their assessed needs and business plans.
The items distributed comprised 20 chest freezers, one double-decker refrigerator, four industrial sewing machines, one tomato and pepper grinding machine, one industrial embroidery machine, one fufu grinding machine, one baking oven, 40 baking pans, one popcorn machine, one sound system comprising a pair of bass speakers and a power sequencer and one laptop.
In addition, GH¢142,500 was disbursed to support business expansion and education.
Intended purpose
Addressing the beneficiaries, Mr Adamu urged them to use the items for their intended purposes to improve their economic well-being.
He said the Government's decision to increase the DACF allocation for PWDs from three to five per cent demonstrated its commitment to improving the welfare of persons with disabilities.
The MCE cautioned beneficiaries against selling the items and warned them not to move from one district to another to benefit from the same support.
He said the assembly, through the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development and the Business Advisory Centre (BAC), would undertake regular monitoring to ensure the effective and sustainable use of the items.
The beneficiaries, comprising 25 females and 36 males, expressed gratitude to the government and the assembly for the support and pledged to put the items to good use to improve their livelihoods.
