{"id":3199,"date":"2026-09-16T15:21:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T15:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ashma.gov.gh\/?p=3199"},"modified":"2026-09-19T12:26:14","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T12:26:14","slug":"ashma-sensitizes-and-disburses-disability-fund-to-59-beneficiaries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.ashma.gov.gh\/index.php\/2026\/09\/16\/ashma-sensitizes-and-disburses-disability-fund-to-59-beneficiaries\/","title":{"rendered":"ASHMA SENSITIZES AND DISBURSES DISABILITY FUND TO 59 BENEFICIARIES"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An amount of GH\u20b5400,000, representing five per cent of the District Assemblies Common Fund released to the Assembly, was disbursed to support the beneficiaries\u2019 livelihoods and income-generating activities. Each beneficiary also received an additional GH\u20b5100 to assist with the transportation of the items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The beneficiaries included adults and children with various forms of disabilities, including deafness, blindness, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assurance on Due Process<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Addy outlined the procedures followed in allocating support under the Fund. He said every application was investigated, applicants\u2019 documents were verified, and the relevant committee visited applicants\u2019 homes or business premises to determine whether they could properly utilise the requested items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social Interventions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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