Fifty-Nine persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Ga South Municipality have been presented with working tools, equipment and school fees worth GH¢118,000.50 at a ceremony held at Ngleshie-Amanfrom in the Ga South Municipal Assembly, on Friday.
Forty-Seven of them received working tools and equipment and twelve of them were supported with school fees and related needs. They were made up of 27 females and 32 males.
Presenting the items, Mr Joseph Nyarni- Stephen, the Municipal Chief Executive for Ga South Assembly said, the presentation was in line with the 3 per cent of the common fund apportioned to address the various needs of persons with disabilities in the country; notably, awareness creation, health, education, economic empowerment, strengthening of associations and integration of persons with disabilities into mainstream development.
He said, the Disability Act of 2006 (Act 715) and other International Instruments such as Equalisation of opportunities for persons with disabilities without any doubt clearly spells out the rights of persons with disabilities to protect them and ensure that they enjoy the fullness of life.
This he said, government was making all efforts to fully actualise the mandates in the instruments.
Mr Nyorni said, most often,, those with disabilities are denied opportunities of fully participating in the activities of the socioeconomic system of which they are a part because of physical and social barriers evolved from ignorance and fear.
According to the Municipal Chief Executive, when persons with disabilities are empowered to participate and lead the process of development, the entire community benefits and added that, their involvement creates opportunities for everyone with or without a disability.
He said the Ga South Municipal Assembly was actively promoting development of persons with disabilities through the interventions of the common fund.
Mr Nyarni hoped the items given to them would be judiciously used for the right purpose so that they would become economically empowered, financially independent to look after their families, contribute their quota to the social-economic development of their communities, earn respect in the eyes of the public and consequently become fully integrated into the mainstream development.
On his part, Mr Godfrey Saim, the Ga South Municipal Officer in Charge of the Department of Social Welfare and Community development said, the presentation was the first batch of disabilities (PWDS) in the municipality.
He said the establishment and aim of the disability fund was to minimise poverty among persons with disabilities, particularly those outside the formal sector of employment, and also to enhance their social image through signified labour.
Mr Saim said the beneficiaries were supported with school fees, assertive devices, working tools and equipment.
From Daniel Amoo, Ngleshie-Amanfro
