Shai Osudoku: PWDs Benefit from Life Sustaining Aids from Assembly
Disabled persons in the Shai Osudoku district in the Greater Accra region for the first time received Income Generating Items from the Disability Common Fund. The presentation, according to the District Chief Executive for the Shai Osudoku district was ample demonstration of government’s commitment to empowering all citizens to contribute to the socio economic development of the country.
A total of two hundred and nineteen (219) applicants benefitted from various support schemes and packages which included Deep Freezers, Hair Dryers and Accessories, Barbering Tools & Accessories, wheelbarrows, wheelchairs, bags of charcoal, maize and various food stuffs for those who are going to trade in the selected stuffs.
The beneficiaries form part of the first batch of PLWDs, who applied to the Assembly for support and were given amounts ranging from GH¢500.00 to GH¢1,500.00.
The items which amounted to over one hundred and twenty-eight thousand cedis (128,000), according to Hon Daniel Akuffo, the DCE for the area, is to endow the recipients with the necessary support to become economically independent as well as for support in the payment of medical bills, school fees, etc.
“The NPP government is poised to assist PWDs to be independent and to improve their social wellbeing rather than being parasites” he said.
The District Chief Executive for SODA in an interview with the media said, the assembly would continue assisting them to improve their standard of living since this was the first time the Assembly had supported the PLWD.
Over the years, PWDs made a number of requests and cash grants were given out. However when it came to monitoring, it was realized that either the money has been spent on food or has been misappropriated. And therefore was not spent for the purpose for which it was requested.
“This time round, in its own wisdom the government has decided to purchase the specific items which were requested in the various individual applications and today, we are witnessing dreams come true with these assorted items,” Hon Akuffo averred.
The assembly chief while cautioning the beneficiaries from selling the items said the gesture was part of government’s efforts towards minimizing poverty and increase social intervention.
He however called on beneficiaries of the fund to put the items received to good use.
“I entreat those benefitting to put the items and support to good use to improve their welfare and alleviate poverty,” he said.
Hon Akuffo said the Assembly was putting some measures in place to purchase specific items for individual PLWDs as stated in their applications, to curb the incidence of monies not being used for the stated purpose.
He urged those who are yet to benefit from the fund to exercise restraint since their applications are still being screened and that at the appropriate time they would receive their share.
On her part, Director of Social Welfare at SODA, Madam Augustina Nartey gave the assurance that the Shai Osudoku District Assembly would embark on a monitoring exercise to ensure that the funds and items were being put to the intended purposes.
She urged the beneficiaries to invest the money in viable ventures.
Source: ritefmonline.org
