ASHMA SENSITIZES AND DISBURSES DISABILITY FUND TO 59 BENEFICIARIES

The Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, through the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, has organised a sensitisation and disbursement programme for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), caregivers and other stakeholders on the Disability Common Fund.

A total of 59 beneficiaries received support during the programme. Fifteen beneficiaries received equipment, one was supported with medical assistance, while 43 received financial assistance.

Items presented included chest freezers, laptops, sewing machines, cheques to support medical bills and perishable goods. The items were embossed with serial numbers to help prevent their resale.

An amount of GH₵400,000, representing five per cent of the District Assemblies Common Fund released to the Assembly, was disbursed to support the beneficiaries’ livelihoods and income-generating activities. Each beneficiary also received an additional GH₵100 to assist with the transportation of the items.

The beneficiaries included adults and children with various forms of disabilities, including deafness, blindness, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy.

Assurance on Due Process

Mr. Joshua Addy, a representative of the National Council on Persons with Disabilities and a person with a disability himself, dismissed reports alleging wrongful taxation on the Disability Common Fund.

He explained that the Assembly applied the appropriate statutory taxes through the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), as required for procurement processes. According to him, the taxes were not collected for individuals but constituted public revenue used to support national development and social interventions.

Mr. Addy outlined the procedures followed in allocating support under the Fund. He said every application was investigated, applicants’ documents were verified, and the relevant committee visited applicants’ homes or business premises to determine whether they could properly utilise the requested items.

He stressed that appearing before the committee did not guarantee approval, as applications were assessed based on eligibility, verification, the urgency of the request and the availability of funds.

He further stated that beneficiaries were not permitted to take the items outside the Ashaiman Municipality and that the committee ensured that beneficiaries received exactly the items approved for them. He dismissed allegations of bias, emphasising that allocations were based solely on due process.

The exercise was conducted in the presence of the Municipal Chief Executive, the Member of Parliament and the Board Chairman to promote transparency and accountability.

Social Interventions

Mr. Addy explained that taxes collected by the state were returned to citizens through public revenue and social interventions, such as;

• Education, including free basic education, free Senior High School education and free tertiary education for first-degree students in public universities.
• Support for vocational and technical education.
• Assistance for entrepreneurship, income-generating activities and innovative businesses.
• Medical support to help beneficiaries settle medical bills.
• The provision of assistive devices such as laptops, spectacles, crutches, wheelchairs and white canes.

He clarified that postgraduate students did not benefit from the free tertiary education arrangement and that applications involving both private and public university admissions were subjected to further analysis.

He also noted that beneficiaries who used items such as chest freezers to establish businesses and employ other people could indirectly contribute to the promotion of the 24-hour economy.

MCE Explains Application Process

The Hon. Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Freeman Tsekpo, said the Disability Common Fund was released quarterly to economically empower vulnerable persons.

He explained that every resident belonged to an electoral area and that Assembly Members played an important role in identifying PWDs and supporting them through the application process. Applicants were required to complete the necessary forms and obtain confirmation from their respective Assembly Members.

Mr. Tsekpo cautioned beneficiaries against selling the items received, stressing that the support was intended to promote sustainable livelihoods. He explained that the amount disbursed could vary from year to year, depending on the Common Fund released to the Assembly.

He added that support was prioritised according to the urgency and needs of applicants. Beneficiaries were monitored after receiving support and were required to update their registration annually.

According to him, government workers and salaried persons might not qualify for the Fund, although records of unsuccessful applicants were maintained for possible consideration in the future.

The MCE further emphasised that accessing the Disability Common Fund did not require the payment of a bribe.

Call for Unity and Accountability

The Hon. Member of Parliament for Ashaiman Constituency, Dr. Ernest Norgbey, commended the Assembly for organising an open disbursement exercise, noting that previous indoor distributions had sometimes created suspicion among members of the public.

He disclosed the government’s Free Tertiary Education policy and urged PWDs to remain united and resist attempts by individuals or groups to manipulate them.

Dr. Norgbey encouraged beneficiaries to demonstrate leadership, use the support to establish viable businesses and create employment opportunities for others.

The Municipal Co-ordinating Director, Ms. Jemima Apedo, assured participants that the programme provided an opportunity to educate PWDs and reassure them of their eligibility to access the Disability Common Fund, which was established specifically to support them.

The programme was facilitated by the Municipal Director of Social Welfare and Community Development, Ms. Vida Adjomani. It served as an important platform for promoting transparency and accountability in the management and distribution of resources meant for PWDs.

Other dignitaries present included members of the clergy, Assembly Members, representatives of the disability fraternity, and members of the general public. The event was held at the forecourt of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly.