Federation calls for national monitoring team for PwDs Fund

The Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations (GFDO) has called for the establishment of a national monitoring team for the usage of Persons with Disability (PWDs) Common Fund.

The GFDO said the Fund must be monitored effectively to know the amount of monies that came in, the disbursement procedures, and the report on beneficiaries among other things.

Mr Fredrick Ofosu, the Programmes Officer at the GFDO, said this at a stakeholders’ meeting to validate the revised guidelines for the management and disbursement of the three per cent District Assemblies’ Common Fund for PwDs.

He said, over the years, governments had demonstrated commitment towards the establishment of the Fund, however, no efforts had been made to ensure its efficient usage to meet the set goals.

“There has been issues of mistrust between persons with disabilities themselves and with officials of the district assemblies. There has been challenges as a result of the lack of effective monitoring,” Mr Ofosu said.

He said until recently the Audit Service paid no particular attention to the Fund during its routine monitoring in the district assemblies adding that some anomalies had been discovered.

Dr Eric Oduro Osae, the Dean of Studies and Research at the Institute of Local Government, who represented the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, suggested the establishment of a national disability fund aside the existing ones to cater for the needs of PwDs.

He explained that a national disability fund should pool resources from all other established funds, like the GETfund, to help give Persons with Disability a sustainable life.

Participants at the meeting noted that there is a lot of pressure on the funds, which is able to serve just a fraction of PwDs and called for widening it to cover more of the PwDs.

They agreed that parents and care givers of children with disability must also benefit from the Fund.

The District Assemblies’ Common Fund for PwDs was established in 2005 to support the income generating activities of PwDs and empower them economically.

Its objectives include the provision of educational support for children, students and trainees with disability, build the capacity of organisations for PwDs at the district level, and support them to access technical aids and other assistive devices and equipment.