The MP addressing the beneficiaries
The Nzema East Municipal Assembly in the Western Region has presented some cash and equipment totalling about GH¢ 76,800 to some persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the area to enable them to engage in productive activities to improve their living standards.
About 100 applicants benefitted from various support schemes and packages which included farming equipment, assisting devices, sewing machines, hairdressing equipment and other tools to empower and assist them to venture into various trade and businesses.
Some of the physically challenged who are students were also given some cash to pay for their fees.
At the presentation ceremony at Axim in the municipality, the Member of Parliament for the area, Catherine Abelema Afeku, disclosed that the fund for the project was from their three per cent share of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF).
The MP who doubles as the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture indicated that the Nana Addo-led NPP government was committed to transforming the lives of PWDs.
She pointed out that the current government had decided to provide PWDs with working tools and equipment so that they could establish their own businesses.
She stressed: “We believe this move will help provide employment, alleviate poverty and provide economic empowerment for our people with disabilities”.
She explained that the municipal assembly had noted with great concern the plight of PWDs and added that the presentation was part of measures to help empower and to remove people with disabilities from the streets.
“We are all one people and therefore should not discriminate against one another. This is to empower and help you create a means of income for yourself, so that you don’t depend on others or beg for alms”, she opined.
She urged them to make good use of items to help create sustainable employment and better their lives and families and also to create employment for others adding “we will be visiting you from time to time to monitor how you would utilize the items”.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Frank Okpeyen, noted that the initiative was a demonstration of government’s commitment to empower every Ghanaian, including PWDs, to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.
The MCE pointed out that the assembly earlier engaged the PWDs on several occasions to help identify their talents and needs to resource them to be self-dependent permanently.
He mentioned that the share of the Common Fund for the PWDs was disbursed quarterly and that what the assembly gave them was from two tranches.
He explained that some of the beneficiaries were assisted to undertake petty trading, hairdressing, sewing and farming. He added that the students among them were given some cash to pay for their fees.
He reminded them that the moneys and the other items given were to help them accomplish the purpose for which they applied for the support.
The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the government for the kind gesture and pledged to put the items into good use, which would go a long way to improve the livelihood of their families.
According to them, it was the first time they had received the benefit in such a package since they were previously using the money for feeding but with this, they were assured of establishing themselves and not be seen always begging.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Axim