Government allocates 70 million cedis to PWDs in Upper East Region

Bolgatanga, Oct. 12, GNA - Government has allocated a 70-million-cedis credit facility for People With Disabilities (PWDs) in Upper East Region who have acquired vocational skills. The facility being disbursed through ARB Apex Bank and other rural banks is to assist the beneficiaries increase productivity and improve their living standards.

Mr Christopher Babooroh, Upper East Regional Director of Social Welfare, announced this at a forum organized by the Department for Children in Bolgatanga on Wednesday.

He said 85 PWDs had benefited from the facility, each being given between one million and two million cedis payable in two years, with 10 per cent interest rate.

Mr Babooroh said imparting employable skills to juveniles and PWDs was one of the department's main objectives.

He said two specialized institutions in the region, the Bolgatanga Rehabilitation Centre and Kusanaba Vocational Centre played a crucial role in addressing the needs of the disabled.

Mr Babooroh observed that poor child maintenance remained one of the biggest obstacles to the survival and development of children in the region.

He said between January and September this year, the department received 350 cases affecting about 800 children from the region's eight districts.

Mr Babooroh said 65 juvenile cases had been reported from Bawku, Bongo, Builsa and Kassena-Nankana Districts, and the figure would have been higher if Family Tribunals in the other four districts had been well constituted and operational.

The Social Welfare Director called for closer collaboration between the department and Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), especially on child maintenance and marital issues, to avert divorces.

"Men prefer the conciliatory approach adopted by Social Welfare rather than going to the court with their wives," he said. On constraints, Mr Babooroh cited poor budgetary allocations, inadequate staff and lack of means of transport.