Axim: Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Nzema-East Municipality have received a significant boost as the Assembly, in collaboration with the office of the Member of Parliament (MP), distributed assorted items and cheques to provide them with livelihood empowerment support.
According to Ghana News Agency, the distributed items include 25 freezers, seven fufu pounding machines, sewing machines, roofing sheets, and cheques, all part of the PWDs’ share of the Common Fund. Speaking during the presentation of these items in Axim, Mr. Herbert Kuah-Dickson, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Nzema-East, highlighted that under the resetting agenda of President John Dramani Mahama, the District Assembly’s Common Fund experienced a significant increase compared to the previous year.
Mr. Kuah-Dickson explained that the three percent disability share of the common fund amounted to GHc94,000.00 in the first quarter, bringing the total for the first and second quarters to GHc188,000.00. In comparison, last year’s first quarter funds were GHc29,000.00, with the highest disability support at GHc34,000.00. This increase has enabled the Assembly to cover disabled persons in the Evaloe, Adjomoro, and Gwira Traditional Areas within the Municipality.
The MCE urged the beneficiaries to utilize the items for their intended purposes rather than selling them, as the items were acquired based on their suggestions. He also mentioned that a second distribution would occur before the end of the year to ensure all disabled persons in the constituency are covered.
Mr. Kuah-Dickson assured that the resources received for the disabled would be made available to them and encouraged them to trust the Assembly’s leadership. He further expressed confidence in the government’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the living conditions of individuals with disabilities in the country.
Mr. Kofi Arko-Nokoe, MP for Evaloe Adjomoro-Gwira, praised the John-Jane administration for providing life-changing opportunities and experiences to persons with disabilities. He added that the Assembly intends to develop a comprehensive database to accurately capture all disabled persons in the Nzema-East Municipality to ensure fair distribution of resources.