Some caregivers in the Volta Region are selling benefits’ application forms from the assemblies to persons with disability (PWDs) for GHC150, while others are buying treasury bills with funds meant for their upkeep, the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) has revealed.
The Volta Regional President of GFD, Elikplim Klu, disclosed this at the presentation of various livelihood support items and cash to 76 PDWs in Ho last Monday, and said the exploitation must end immediately.
She warned that henceforth, caregivers who pilfer livelihood support items and funds meant for persons with disability (PWDs) would suffer swift and ruthless consequences.
Miss Klu described as cruel how some caregivers to PWDs misappropriated supportive items and funds allocated to the PWDs, for their own personal benefits, and affirmed the federation was ready to prosecute those miscreants.
She maintained that the caregivers had no reason whatsoever to steal from PWDs under their care because they (caregivers) were on a stipend for their services.
Miss Klu said a monitoring team was now in place to ensure what was due PWDs reached them in full.
The beneficiaries were presented with deep freezers, laptop computers, fufu pounders, sewing machines, cash, and a water tank at a cost of GH¢ 262,980.
Miss Klu commended the Ho Municipal Assembly for the equitable and regular manner in which the livelihood support items were allocated to the beneficiaries, devoid of any political colours or discrimination.
MCE
The Ho Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Stephen Adom, said PWDs were an integral part of society and must not be treated unfairly for any reason.
He said the assembly would definitely deal with those who trampled on the rights of PWDs, and urged the beneficiaries to make the most of the items they had received, manage their businesses and live comfortably.
The Chairman of PWDs Common Fund Management Committee in the Ho Municipality, Alex Akpo, said there were now more than 1,000 PWDs in the municipality, who were differently abled in other fields of livelihood.
“So, they have no reason to take to begging on the streets,” he added.
