By: Elorm Yao Aryee
A total of 43 Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta region have received business support packages from the Municipal Assembly.
Some of the beneficiaries were given start-up capital to venture into business schemes. The gesture is to fulfill government’s policy direction on the efficient use of the three percent disability component of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) which is intended to economically empower disabled people to cater for themselves. The 43 beneficiaries comprised 21 males and 22 females who are part of registered People With Disability in the Ketu South Municipality.
The business support packages include equipment such as laptops, leather and industrial sowing machines, photocopier machine, deep freezers, hair dryers, washing machines, and printers.
Start-up capital were also presented to beneficiaries who intend to engage in mobile money business. Groceries such as bags of rice, and large quantities of cooking oil, drinks, sugar, and washing powder among others were also handed over to beneficiaries who intend to establish provision stores.
At a brief ceremony at the premises of the Municipal Assembly to present the items and start-up capital, the Ketu South Municipal Chief Executive, Maxwell Lugudor, entreated the beneficiaries to commit to the support packages for the intended purpose to enable them to achieve economic independence.
He reiterated the Assembly’s commitment to ensure that People With Disabilities in the Municipality are fully integrated into society to contribute to the area’s socio-economic development.
The Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa who supervised the presentation ceremony stated that government has increased the disability component of the District Assembly’s Common Fund as a measure to empower more People With Disability to contribute to nation-building. He expressed the hope that the beneficiaries will put the support packages to good use in order to improve their living conditions.
