PWDs urged to pursue dreams
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Banda in the Bono Region, Madam Mary Konneh, has encouraged People Living With Disabilities (PWDs) not to let their conditions discourage them from pursuing their dreams and aspirations since they have talents and capabilities.
“Your physical conditions should not prevent you from pursuing your dreams. There are more potential and capabilities in you, so be happy and work towards achieving them,” she stated
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Madam Konneh was speaking when the Banda District Assembly presented working tools, equipment, petty trading provisions and materials valued at GH₵135,000 to some PWDs in the district to help them earn decent job.
The presentation, which was funded from the three per cent of the assembly’s share of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) allocated to the PWDs, was to support them to start their own businesses in a bid to reduce poverty among them.
In all, a total of about 66 PWDs received working tools, equipment, petty trading provisions and other materials from the assembly.
Items
The items included deep freezers, fridges, sewing machines and fabrics, fufu pounding machines, farming inputs such as cocoa and weedicide spraying machines, weedicides, cutlasses and Wellington boots.
Others were metal containers, shoemaking machines and leather materials, roofing sheets, bags of cement, stationary and wheel chairs.
In addition, some disabled students, who had gained admission to tertiary institutions received cash to support their education, while others received various amount of money to cater for their hospital bills.
The items were presented according to the choice and business proposals presented by the beneficiaries.
Eliminating poverty
Madam Konneh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to support PWDs to enhance their social image through dignified labour and advised the beneficiaries to make good use of the items to enhance their living conditions.
She said the assembly would ensure that all PWDs in the area received their share of the common fund and appealed to those who had not yet received their items to exercise patience.
Madam Konneh charged the Department of Social Welfare to ensure regular monitoring of the activities of the beneficiaries to ensure that businesses were properly established.
Skills
The Banda District Director of the Social Welfare and Community Development (SWCD), Mr Felix Donkor, told the Daily Graphic that some of the PWDs in the area had acquired various skills and knowledge to produce quality made-in-Ghana products but due to lack of tools and equipment, they were unable to put their skills to meaningful use.
He said the presentation was, therefore, aimed at supporting them to get the required tools and equipment to enhance their work and expressed the hope that all the 653 registered members of the PWDs would receive their share.
Beneficiaries
Some of the beneficiaries, who spoke to the Daily Graphic, thanked the government for the provision of the tools and equipment, explaining that the support would help them work to earn a living for themselves.