Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Upper Manya Krobo District of the Eastern Region have been engaged on the proper use of government's 3% Disability Common Fund in a sensitization programme organized by the Youth and Women Empowerment (YOWE) organization.

The session, held at Asesewa, brought together dozens of PWDs to assess the impact of support they have received and explore ways to better utilize aid for sustainable livelihoods.

Explaining the purpose of the meeting, Executive Director of YOWE, Emmanuel Nuetey Siakwa, noted that although many PWDs benefit from government-supplied aid through the Assemblies, the intended impact often falls short due to poor application and lack of due diligence in the use of the items.

“Most PWDs benefit from the life-sustaining aid given by the Assemblies, but the situation does not bring the intended income to them. This is because most of them fail to do due diligence before receiving the items to know how to use them to their advantage,” Siakwa said.

He further explained that the purpose of the engagement was to help PWDs identify and prioritize the kind of support they request from the Assembly, ensuring the assistance aligns with their actual needs and capacities.

He also cited the Fund Management Committee for failing to conduct proper assessments of business proposals before disbursing support.

“Somebody may request for a fridge when he doesn’t even have electricity… some lapses were done by the Fund Management Committee in the past, but this time round we are committed to doing things differently,” he emphasised.

Siakwa assured participants that YOWE will work closely with the District Chief Executive (DCE) and other stakeholders to promote the welfare of PWDs in the district.

General Secretary of the PWDs in Upper Manya Krobo, Pesidor Eric Kwame, disclosed that there are currently over 1,800 registered PWDs in the district.

He identified key challenges facing members, including high transportation costs to attend meetings and widespread neglect by family members. He appealed to the government to continue and expand its support for them.

District Chief Executive, Kwesi Lawer, also addressed participants and highlighted key government interventions such as the Disability Fund and the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme as significant steps toward improving the lives of PWDs.

He reiterated the Assembly’s commitment to including PWDs in its development plans.

During the session, several beneficiaries shared their experiences. While some indicated that the support received had enabled them to earn a living and provide for their families, others lamented that the equipment provided was not fit for purpose or lacked accompanying infrastructure.

One participant who received a sewing machine noted that he still struggles due to the lack of a shop to operate from.

The engagement was facilitated as part of the 18-month-long second phase of YOWE’s “Action for Voice, Influence and Inclusive Development” (AVID-2) Project with funding support from STAR-Ghana Foundation.

The initiative, which falls under a 3-year strategic development plan, seeks to empower PWDs by equipping them with the necessary skills and guidance to become self-reliant and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Organizers and stakeholders expressed hope that through such engagements, PWDs will be better positioned to leverage available resources to improve their quality of life and ensure long-term economic independence.