The Ga West Municipal Assembly (GWMA) in the Greater Accra Region has presented working tools and financial support to 67 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the municipality to enhance their livelihoods and help them to become more self-reliant.
The support was provided through the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development under the District Assemblies Common Fund’s five per cent allocation for PWDs based on the beneficiaries’ assessed needs and business plans.
The items distributed included 27 deep freezers accompanied by start-up capital, industrial and electric sewing machines, fufu pounding machines, and three laptops for beneficiaries pursuing higher education.
Support was also provided to some beneficiaries to cover their school fees.
Other items distributed included fertiliser, corn mill machines, bags of charcoal, rice and beans, as well as metal containers for beneficiaries interested in starting provision shops.
Cheques were also presented to some beneficiaries to enable them to establish mobile money and cold store businesses.
Distribution
At a ceremony in Accra last Thursday, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the Ga West Municipal Assembly, John Desmond Sowah Nai, encouraged the beneficiaries to make good use of the support, and commended them for their determination to improve their livelihoods.
He explained that the items distributed were based on the specific needs of the beneficiaries, which were identified through a vetting exercise conducted by the assembly.
Mr Sowah Nai urged the beneficiaries to put the items and financial support to productive use to improve their economic well-being, and cautioned them against selling the items.
Support PWDs
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Amasaman, Sedem Kweku Afenyo, urged families and communities to support PWDs to make good use of items provided to help them to establish sustainable livelihoods.
He said the support being provided by the assembly was only a starting point, and should be complemented by assistance from families and the wider community.
Mr Afenyo said he had already engaged a representative of the beneficiaries at the municipal assembly, and expressed his intention to personally support their activities, adding that he was prepared to help mobilise additional resources to supplement the assistance being provided by the assembly.
He, however, cautioned beneficiaries against selling the items provided to them, saying that such action would defeat the purpose of the intervention.
The MP also urged families not to take over the items or fight beneficiaries over the use of the items, stating that the beneficiaries should have a say in determining how the items could best support their livelihoods.
Mr Afenyo assured the beneficiaries of his willingness to work with the assembly and other stakeholders to explore additional support to improve their economic opportunities.
