Persons with disability are demanding that politicians consider increasing their 3% share of the District Assembly Common FUND as political parties write their manifestoes.
Making these demands in Kumasi, immediate past president of the Ghana Federation for Disability Organizations in the Ashanti Region Alfred Amponsah – Tebi insisted that the upward review has become urgent with the ever increasing list of PWDs registering and submitting requests for support.
“This government embarked on data collection of persons with disability and so the list has increased. They should increase the share of the common fund so that all our members will be covered to access their needs when they send proposals to the district assemblies,” Mr. Amponsah Tebi demanded.
He was addressing a meeting of the Kumasi Metro Branch of the Ghana Blind Union where the New Patriotic Party (NPP) donated food items, confectionaries and cash to support members of the blind community.
NPP Donation
Handing over the donations a patron of the Blind Union and executive member of the New Patriotic Party Mr. Akwasi Kyei Danso indicated that an NPP government has what it takes to resolve teething challenges confronting PWDs in the country.
“The government has instituted a lot of support schemes for persons with disability through the common fund and other special measures. In the Ashanti Region, a lot is being done at the Jachie Rehabilitation Centre for the people,” he enumerated.
The former NPP regional communications director Mr. Akwasi Kyei further underscored the need for more state attention for Persons With Disability.
He insisted that politicians eying Decembers national elections, risk serious incursions if they underestimate the impact of the disability community.
“It is a huge community because from the statistics of the EC we have over 1.5 million people with disability on the voters register. Any politician worth his salt as a serious politician, cannot afford to joke with this community,” he contended.
GBU Commendation
Kumasi Metro President of the Blind Union Rita Agyemang Yeboah received the items for onward distribution to the underprivileged and vulnerable.
She commended Mr. Akwasi Kyei and leadership of the NPP in the region including the party’s Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako a.k.a. Chairman Wontumi for extending such acts of benevolence to their fold.
Speaking to Ultimate News’ Regional Secretary of the GBU Francis Manu expressed optimism, the phenomenon of street begging associated with the blind will be resolved if the blind are properly identified for targeted support.
He pointed out that the union is working towards gathering a detailed database that specifies the different category of needs to guide interventions for the blind.
PWD share of DACF
By statute, 3% of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) quarterly released to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) is earmarked for Persons With Disability.
This fund goes to support economic activities; educational and health expenses; support disability organisations and purchase assistive devises and aids for persons with disability.
Until president Nana Akufo Addo increased the share to 3%, the allocation constituted 2% of the District Assembly Common Fund.
A Disability Fund Administration Committee takes requests submitted by registered Persons With Disability; vets and prioritizes the needs with approved guidelines to select who gets to benefit.
The fund has however suffered an age long challenge of delays in disbursement, difficulty to access funds and stark inadequacy; leaving a majority of PWDs unable to receive anything after submitting their requests.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Ivan Heathcote – Fumador
