The Talensi District Assembly in the Upper East Region, has made a second disbursement of the Disability Fund to some Persons living with disabilities in the district. The Assembly disbursed a total amount GHc 32,150.00.
The District Chief Executive Dr. Christopher Boatbil Someteima a speech to the beneficiaries of the disability fund on Tuesday, November 20, said the Assembly will soon roll out an excise to register all Persons with Disability in the district to enhance accurate data collection of PWD’s.
However, during his caution to beneficiaries to use the fund wisely, Dr. Boatbil also used the opportunity to give an account of the disbursement he has made from January to September 2018.
“Before I make any more statement, let me give the round down of the disbursement we have made in this Assembly since January to September 2018. In the area of Education, we have disbursed GHc 25, 106.00. For those in income generation, we have disbursed GHc105,385.00. For those who are in Agriculture, we have supported them with an amount of GHc 37, 530.00. For those in apprenticeship, they consumed GHc 2000.00.
There were also activities to sensitize Persons with Disabilities in the district and that cost the Assembly an amount of GHc 900.00 and an amount of GHc 1,428.00, was used to purchase drugs for the disabled persons with mental health needs. It is made possible, because the new government led by President His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo found the plight of PWD’s very serious, the reason he had increased the Disability Fund share of the District Assembly Common Fund, from 2 to 3 percent.” He said.
Dr. Boatbil further stressed, that it will be very regrettable that, some individuals will continue to have bad perceptions about Persons with Disability, because of their conditions especially, by thinking that PWD’s should leave a life of poverty.
According the DCE, his administration adopted a new system of disbursement of the Disability Fund in order to allow the fund get to beneficiaries directly without intimidation by any officials.
“And nobody should think that, because one is disabled, the person should leave a live of poverty and suffering, I believe that with this increments, if we invest the money properly, in the coming years, society seeing that you can fight for yourself, you can make money for yourself, they will begin to reverse the kind of perception they have about PWD’s and you begin to be respected in the society, because by that time, you will have your own money to spend.
The District Assembly since I took over, I have shifted away from the traditional method of bringing liquid cash to the Assembly to be disbursed to PWDs. So for the first time when we disbursed money, what we did was to sign cheques for beneficiaries to go and cash the monies themselves from the National Investment Bank. The reason why we are doing this is because we want to prevent the situation where there is a possibility of officials who will be distributing the monies, taking part of your money.” He stress
David Ania, the Upper East Regional President of Persons With Disability (PWDs) who was present during the disbursement also advise beneficiaries to utilize the money well in order to yield fruitful income for them and their families.
He appreciated the Assembly’s continuous support and cooperation towards PWDs
However, the 32 beneficiaries of the Talensi District Assembly’s disbursement were full of excitement as they pledged to use the monies given them properly, to improve on their livelihoods.
Per this second disbursement, the Talensi District Assembly has given out a total of GHc172,349.00 from January too September 2018 to Persons with Disabilities.
Source: a1radioonline.com/ Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen/ Ghana
