The Bolgatanga Municipal assembly has disbursed an amount of Ghc 105, 271 to 113 Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
The grant which forms part of allocation of the Municipal Assembly Common Fund to the PWDs saw beneficiaries receiving money ranging from Ghc300 to Ghc 2,800 to go into livelihood empowerment ventures.
Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Joseph Amiyuure, before handing over cash cheques to the beneficiaries stated that Ghana’s quest to stay off donor support can be realized if its citizens utilize judiciously any little resources available to them.
He entreated the beneficiaries to use the money for its purpose to improve on their livelihood.
“This Ghana Beyond Aid cannot be possible without us as individuals getting ourselves beyond aid. It means you as a person who today is being given this grant, the objective is for you to use it to be self sufficient.” He said.
Head of Upper East Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, Mercy Maawoo Pwavra, who doubles as secretary to Bolgatanga Municipal Disability Fund Management, said the beneficiaries were given business management training prior to the disbursement of the fund to enable them manage any business they may want to venture into.
She says the support will curb begging among PWDs since “begging is a crime in this country and therefore if a person is caught begging it means that the person has to be prosecuted.”
She assures the department will monitor periodically and provide guidance to beneficiaries for the purpose of the grant is realized. “We are going to move to the communities to see whether indeed they used the money for the intended purposes.” She said.
Madam Pwavra said the department has also spent Ghc 138,043.00 to support students with special needs.
Albert Ameyire, a beneficiary thanked government for the support offered them. He pledged to make good use of the money to improve his lot.
By: Joshua Asaah A1radioonline.com|101.1Mhz
