Cape Coast assembly supports persons with disability

The Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly (CCMA) last year disbursed more than GH¢7,100.00 to 48 Persons with Disability (PWDs) in the metropolis under their two-per cent Common Fund allocation.  The amount, which ranged from GH¢200.00 to GH¢500.00, was to serve as seed money to enable them to start their own businesses to improve upon their living conditions.

Mrs Felicia Ankrah, Metro Director, Social Welfare, who made this known to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) recently, said the money was disbursed based on the projects the beneficiaries were executing.

It is government’s policy that two per cent of the District Assembly Common Fund be reserved for persons with disabilities to support them and their activities to enable them  to contribute to national development.

Mrs Ankrah explained that parents who had children suffering from Cerebral Palsy were also given assistance to start their private businesses. Currently the fund supports about 15 parents, who have children with such condition.

She said 11 people from the Ghana Society for Disabled Children were also beneficiaries of the fund with 11 others from the Ghana National Association for the Deaf, who have taken to  projects such as rabbit rearing, vegetable cultivation, bakery and the construction of offices for the groups. 

Mrs Ankrah, however, expressed concern about the way some parents hid their disabled children due to stigmatisation and asked those parents to contact the Department of Social Welfare for help and advice.

She also advised parents and people with disabilities to desist from begging for alms on the streets since the government had taken the initiative to support them. -GNA