Ada West supports PWDs with items

The Ada West District Assembly in the Greater Accra Region has disbursed various items, including tools and equipment for small businesses, assistive devices, educational support, health support and seed capital for entrepreneurial ventures to 63 Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) out of the three per cent District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) earmarked for PWDs. 

Twenty-seven benefited from economic and business support, 22 benefited from equipment support, nine benefited from education support and five benefited from health and assistive devices.

The items were deep freezers, laptop computers, knitting machines, corn mill motor, rice, bags of charcoal, tarpaulin, wheelchairs, bags of sugar, soap, biscuits, tomato paste, soft drinks, mosquito coils, eggs, cooking oil, packets of blades and matches, among others.    

Prior to the disbursement, the beneficiaries underwent business and capacity-building training facilitated by officials from the Business Resource Centre and the Agave Rural Bank, designed to equip them with entrepreneurial skills, deepen their understanding of available business opportunities, and strengthen their basic banking and financial management skills, among other essential competencies.

Through collaboration with stakeholders, including non-governmental organisations and private-sector partners, the assembly had also improved access to healthcare, mobility aids and other essential services for PWDs. 

Opportunity to thrive

The Ada West District Chief Executive (DCE), Modjifatanihu Jerry-John Foreigner Mills-Nkrumah, who presented the items to the beneficiaries, said the district was committed to ensuring that every individual, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to thrive and contribute meaningfully to our community.

The DCE said the Social Welfare and Community Development Department of the assembly did not simply select the beneficiaries; each had been carefully selected to meet the specific needs of the beneficiaries, following consultations and assessments by the District Disability Fund Management Department, which, upon receiving applications, sorted, shortlisted, vetted and conducted home assessments to establish the eligibility of the applicants.

He said the disbursement of the items was not just a fulfilment of the assembly’s statutory obligation but also a reflection of the assembly’s deep-seated belief in the inherent dignity and potential of every person.

‘’We believe that empowering persons with disabilities is not an act of charity but a recognition of their rights and an investment in the future of our district,’’ he added.

The DCE encouraged the beneficiaries to make good use of the resources, stressing ‘’whether it is a tool for trade, funds for education or seed capital for a business idea, these are stepping-stones toward your independence and prosperity’’. 

Channel request

The District Director for Social Welfare and Community Development, Philip Dotse, said 173 applicants for the disbursement were shortlisted, leaving 63 beneficiaries and hoped the others would get their turn in the next consignment.

Mr Dotse urged PWDs in the district to channel their requests through their assembly members, who represent them in the assembly, rather than travel to the assembly due to the inconvenience.

A member of the National Council of Persons with Disabilities, Joshua Addy, who represented the National Council, said the joy of PWDs receiving the various items was not on the day of collection, but in their future as a tool of empowerment.

He stressed that the items were not a charity, but they must make judicious use of them to enhance themselves.