The Department of Social Welfare and Community Development (DSWCD) of the Suame Municipal Assembly (SMA) has disbursed funds from its annual quota of Disability Fund to 51 Persons (33 Males and 18 Females) with Disability (PWDs) to empower them.
The beneficiaries received various packages including economic empowerment (Males-16, Females-11) – GHC81,000, education and training (Males-2, Females-3) – GHC18,000, medical and assistive devices (Males-6, Female-1) -GHC29,000, as well as economic items or business startup-tools (Males-9, Females-3) such as refrigerators and sewing machines – GHC71,450, at a presentation ceremony last Monday.
Ms. Ayisha Mohammed, Head of DSWCD, explained the criteria used in selecting beneficiaries and disclosed that after one has applied for the funds, a team is dispatched to ascertain whether the support they (PWDs) requested is one they “really need” and also fall within the four areas, thus Economic Empowerment, Education and Training, Medical and Assistive Devices and Economic Items.
She said a shortlist is sent to the Committee to vet and ratify for the disbursement and urged beneficiaries to be patient with the Department when disbursement of the Funds delays because there are rules and laws governing the process.
Ms. Mohammed further urged beneficiaries to use the funds for its intended purpose to facilitate more disbursement by the government, noting that disability is not inability, but “differently able” citing that some of the beneficiaries are software programmers and shoemakers.
Mr. Frank Owusu Ansah, Chief Executive Officer of SMA disclosed the disbursement of the Disability Fund is “very keen” to the Assembly, as well as H.E John Dramani Mahama, hence mandating the Local Government Minister to undertake monitoring exercise in the various MMDAs to curb misappropriation and ensure allocations reach targeted beneficiaries.
The Municipal Chief Executive advised beneficiaries to use the fund for their intended-purpose to help the socio-economic development of the municipality and the nation as a whole, also urging them to advocate the Fund to PWDs within the Municipality to register.
From Oswald P. Freiku, Kumasi
