Govt Clears PWDs Arrears

Government has released an amount of GH¢9.8 million to clear all areas for Persons With Disability (PWD) across the country.

The amount forms part of Common Fund allocations and was released to the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) for onward disbursement to PWDs.

A statement issued and signed by Irene Nana Torshie Addo Lartey, Administrator of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) said the GH¢9.8 million released covers the 2017 fourth quarter arrears.

The DACF Administrator, earlier this year, also released an amount of GH¢28 million to cover the 2016 fourth quarter and the 2017 first, second and third quarters.

For the 2017 fourth PWD allocations, Volta Region received GH¢1.1million, Eastern Region received GH¢1.1million, Ashanti Region GH¢1.4 million; Brong -Ahafo, GH¢ 1.1milion with Northern Region receiving, GH¢ 1.1 million.

Central Region received a total of GH¢931,284; Western Region received, GH¢977,676, Upper West Region received GH¢460,996, Upper East received GH¢577,275 Greater Accra Region received GH¢933,928

PWDs, last year, nearly staged a demonstration over the delay in the release of the allocation.

According to them life, had become unbearable since many of them depended on the allocation for survival.

The demonstration was however quelled at the eleventh hour after the government through the DACF and the Ministry for Local Government and Rural Development, assured them of the release of the arrears.

The DACF has accordingly charged all MDAs to equip more than 50 of the PWDs registered in their respective assemblies in economic and business ventures.

It said the PWDs should be provided working tools and equipment including freezers, sewing machines, corn-mills, pop-corn machines, barbering tools, welding and carpentry machines, shoes markets kit, hair dryers, spraying machines, bee and grasscutter tools, poly tanks and water hose.

The DACF has also urged all District, Municipal and Metropolitan Chief Executives to ensure the distribution process was smooth so that proper beneficiaries receive the allocations.