The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the New Juaben South Municipal Assembly, Hon. Ransford Owusu Boakye, says the continuous disbursement of economic empowerment support to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) has significantly reduced the number of disabled persons begging on the streets of Koforidua.
He said this has protected their dignity and enhanced economic inclusivity.
Metropolitan,Municipal and District Assemblies utilizes three percent of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) allocated to PWDs to procure equipment, machinery, and startup tools for beneficiaries.
The support also includes seed capital for businesses and educational assistance for qualified applicants.
Speaking during a recent distribution exercise, Hon. Ransaford Owusu Boakye noted that the initiative is helping beneficiaries establish sustainable livelihoods and improve their economic independence.
The New Juaben South Municipal Assembly distributed a range of items, including deep freezers, ovens, fufu pounding machines, laptops, wheelchairs, movable shop shelves, and cash support as seed capital for businesses to selected beneficiaries.
The MCE said the intervention is already producing positive results, with many beneficiaries engaging in productive economic activities rather than resorting to street begging.
“In our next subsequent ones, we will also be presenting cash and similar items to our brothers and sisters who are disabled. For more indications, we don’t have disabled persons in the streets as we earlier had. For more indications, it’s an improvement on what we had earlier”.the MCE said.
Some beneficiaries expressed optimism that the support would improve their living conditions, expand their businesses, and make them financially self-reliant.
The New Juaben South Municipal Social Welfare Officer, Miss Josephine Belinda Dzoko, emphasized the importance of continuous technical support, monitoring, and evaluation to ensure the sustainability and profitability of the businesses established through the fund.
Persons with Disabilities in Ghana continue to face numerous challenges, including limited access to education, high unemployment rates, poverty, and social stigma.
However, stakeholders believe targeted empowerment programmes such as the DACF support scheme coupled with othrr government interventions such as free Senior high and terrtiary education for persons with disabilities can help improve their socio-economic well-being and promote greater inclusion in society.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
