By Jones Anlimah
30 registered Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Agotime Ziope District of the Volta region have received business startup packages to improve their livelihoods at an estimated cost of 80 thousand Ghana cedis.
The business support packages are in fulfillment of the government’s new policy direction on the efficient utilisation of the 3% disability component of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).
A total of about 20 items at a cost of eighty thousand Ghana cedis were distributed to 30 registered Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Agotime Ziope district of the Volta region.
The items included wheel chairs, egg hatching incubator, some livestock animals, chest freezers. Others included corn mills, bags of groundnut, weaving yarns, drinks, barbering machines and its accessories among others.
10 persons also received disbursement on both health and educational purposes. The presentation of the start-up packages is in fulfilment of the government’s new policy direction on the efficient utilisation of the 3% percent disability component of the District Assembly’s Common Fund (DACF).
The assistance forms part of support and assistance packages to enable persons living with disability to start petty businesses to improve their livelihoods.
The Agotime District Director of the Social Welfare Department, Togbe Tsali said, ”out of the over 100 beneficiaries have so far received various packages and assistance in other areas”.
He urged the beneficiaries to look beyond their disabilities and utilise the support packages to enhance their living conditions and that of their families.
The Agotime Ziope District Chief Executive (DCE), Emelia Adzimah, said the government is committed towards providing a robust welfare system to cater for the vulnerable groups such as persons living with disabilities through its various social intervention policies.
The Volta Regional Director for the Department of Social Welfare, Mrs. Stella Mawusi Mawutor, said the Disability Common Fund ”is a measure by put in place by the government to respond to the needs of persons living with disabilities in recognition of their important roles in nation building and urged beneficiaries to use the items for the intended purposes.
