By Michael Kofi Kenetey
The Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly, through its Social Welfare and Community Development Department, has distributed business start-up kits, business support items, and assistive devices, as well as cash grants, to 74 Persons with Disabilities, PWDs in the Yilo Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region. The packages are to help improve the livelihoods and well-being of persons with disabilities in the Municipality.
In an interview with GBC News, the Yilo Krobo Municipal Chief Executive, Francis Addo Akumatey, emphasized his commitment to empowering PWDs in the municipality to enable them become economically empowered and self-reliant.
The disbursement in Somanya is in fulfillment of the government’s policy direction on the efficient utilization of the five percent disability common fund component under the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 Act 715 of the District Assemblies Common Fund, DACF. The distribution was in four categories, namely business startup kits, business startup capital, education and apprenticeship, and healthcare support.
Under the start-up kits, 31 PWDs benefited, comprising 15 250-litre chest freezers, two 5000-litre Polytanks, three industrial sewing machines, eight fufu pounding machines, 10 sacks of charcoal, and two sacks of gari. Under the business start-up capital, 11 received business start-up grants according to their economic activities they desire to venture or invest in.
While under education, nine of them were supported in their formal education with cash grants, and under healthcare, three with various forms of disabilities were supported with cash grants to access quality healthcare, and 20 were provided with assistive devices.
Mr Francis Addo Akumatey, revealed that President John Dramani Mahama has the well-being of PWDs at heart, hence his decision to increase the percentage of the disability fund from three to five percent. He emphasized that the five percent was strictly used for its intended purposes ensuring the full involvement of the disability fund management committee in all processes leading to the selection of the beneficiaries.
The Yilo Krobo Municipal Social Welfare and Community Development Director, Chantelle Naa-Afua Tettey reiterated that the distribution of the items is a clear demonstration of their shared commitment to equity, inclusion, dignity, and social justice.
She hinted that as a department, their mandate is to protect and promote the welfare of the vulnerable, disadvantaged, and excluded in society, adding that supporting persons with disabilities is therefore not a favour but rather a responsibility guided by law, policy, and professional values. Madam Naa-Afua Tettey encouraged the beneficiaries to use the items for their intended purposes, so that the support will truly improve their livelihoods and wellbeing.
The Yilo Krobo Municipal President of the Ghana Federation of Disabilities, Vida Awaitey commended the government as well as the MCE and the Social Welfare Department for the gesture. She encouraged those who have not joined the association yet to do so to enable them to get the benefits.
