The Ho Municipal Assembly has supported 76 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and organisations with more than GH¢262,000 to improve their livelihoods, education, health and economic independence under the District Assemblies Common Fund allocation for PWDs.

The support, which forms part of the fifth phase of the current distribution exercise, was presented on behalf of the President through the Ho Municipal Assembly.

It is the 37th disbursement since the programme began, according to Alex Korsi Akpo, Ho Municipal Chairman of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations and Chairman of the Assembly’s Disability Committee.

Beneficiaries received a wide range of items and financial assistance based on their needs. These included refrigerators, deep freezers, sewing machines, fufu pounding machines, barbering equipment, polytanks, food items and cash to support petty trading and other income-generating activities.

Akpo said the programme also catered for educational needs, with support provided to children with disabilities in school. Some beneficiaries with health needs received assistance for artificial legs and hearing aids, while others received support for mental health treatment and rehabilitation.

He explained that the Common Fund support was designed as a quarterly programme, meaning that beneficiaries should receive assistance four times each year when the system operates fully.

According to him, there had been no arrears in the disbursement since the new National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration assumed office, describing the regular payments as a positive development for Persons with Disabilities.

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Stephen Adom, said the interventions were intended to create opportunities for PWDs to establish or expand sustainable businesses, generate income and become more economically independent.

He said the regular quarterly disbursement was a significant part of the reset agenda initiated by President John Dramani Mahama, stressing that the government had put systems in place to ensure that resources meant for vulnerable groups reached them without unnecessary delays.

Adom reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to ensuring that government interventions for PWDs reached the rightful beneficiaries and were used effectively to improve their lives.

He also commended workers of the Assembly for what he described as their transparency and sincerity in implementing the programme, saying their commitment had helped to ensure that the support reached those who needed it.

The MCE further called on families, communities and other stakeholders to promote the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities by recognising their abilities, talents, dignity and contributions to society.

“Together, we are building an inclusive Ho Municipality where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, and no one is left behind,” he said.