Common Fund Releases Over GH¢7M To Empower PWDs

The government of Ghana as part of plans to economically empower persons with disabilities (PWDs) has released a whooping sum of GH¢7,563,791.79.

The Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), Madam Irene Naa Torshie Lartey, in a statement said, the money has been disbursed to all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) across the country.

The amount, according to her is part of the District Assembly Common Fund allocation for first quarter of 2018.

Madam Torshie-Lartey noted that the release of the fund on time, was a demonstration of government’s commitment to the socio-economic empowerment of PWDs.

PWDs across the country have been up in arms with government for not receiving their cut of the Common Fund since 2016.

Early this year, some PWDs in Yendi embarked on a peaceful demonstration to place a demand for the release of the fund.

Two percent of the DACF is always assigned to the PWDs to help them start small-scale businesses.

The initiative by government is geared towards making PWDs economically independent―in turn, reducing poverty in the process.

Madam Torshie-Lartey doing the breakdown of the funds said, Upper East gets GH¢635,538.82, Upper West GH¢513,529.75, Northern Region GH¢1,019,546.63 whilst GH¢831,780.78 goes to Brong Ahafo.

Ashanti Region is expected to receive GH¢42,457.30, Volta Region GH¢1,181,047.80, Eastern Region GH¢1,060.836.76 and Greater Accra GH¢273 ,621.39.

The rest, she indicated will cover Central and Western regions, getting GH¢730,192.18 and GH¢575,240.56 respectfully.

The DACF administrator was confident the funds as disbursed, would go a long way to impact positively, the living standards of PWDs in the country.

By: Grace Ablewor Sogbey/ [email protected]