Two organisations discuss fund for persons with disability
The Social Enterprise Development Ghana (SEND Ghana), in collaboration with the Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD), has held a national dialogue to discuss the report on the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) for persons with disability (PWDs).
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SEND Ghana, in May this year, launched a report which indicated that district assemblies were mismanaging funds allocated to PWDs from the DACF.
According to the report, the District Fund Management Committee, set up by the district assemblies to disburse and manage the funds, was violating some guidelines for its implementation.
The report also established the misuse and abuse of funds by beneficiaries.
In response to the findings of the report, SEND Ghana organised a series of dialogue to find solutions to the problems associated with the disbursement and use of the funds.
Lack of funds
Speaking at the programme, the Chairman of the GFD, Mr Yaw Debrah, said the federation had received a lot of complaints from its members but it had not been able to monitor and follow up on the issues because of lack of funds.
He blamed members of the federation for being the cause of some of the challenges, saying “some of them do not appreciate the money given them, others misuse the funds while others rely solely on it for their survival.”
Mr Debrah further explained that some representatives of PWDs on the committee also connived with the district assemblies to allegedly cheat the beneficiaries.
Transparency
He called on the government to pay attention to the fund for persons with disabilities and also ensure transparency in the disbursement of the fund, since it served as a good intervention for its members.
The Director of Research, Statistics and Information at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Ms Dorothy Onny, said the fund had supported the health, education and other needs of the beneficiaries and so it was important to monitor its management to sustain it.
The Chairperson for SEND West Africa, Mr Siapha Kamara, said the SEND would continue to demand accountability to ensure the efficient disbursement and management of the fund.
