A total of 183 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Techiman Municipality have benefited from about GH¢540,000 under the Disability Common Fund.
The support, which combines the 2025 fourth quarter and 2026 first quarter allocations, was disbursed through the Techiman Municipal Assembly to assist beneficiaries in improving their livelihoods and meeting their educational and health needs.
The beneficiaries received various items and financial support based on their specific needs under the guidelines governing the Disability Common Fund.
Speaking on the disbursement, the Municipal Coordinator for Social Welfare, Mr. Henry Owusu Appiah, said the fund supports beneficiaries under four main areas, including economic empowerment, education, health and caregiver support.
He said the economic component, which covers trade, capital and items such as refrigerators, received about GH¢284,000, while GH¢95,500 was allocated to education and GH¢62,500 to health support.
“Under the Disability Common Fund guidelines, we have about four categories. We have the economy, which takes care of trade, capital, fridges and other items. We also have the health component, the educational component and caregiver support.”
He explained that the Assembly also allocated 10 percent of the Common Fund to disability organisations for organisational development and support.
According to him, the associations, including the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations and the Ghana Society of Physically Disabled, also require financial support to undertake their activities and assist their members.
“The associations, we have Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations, we have Ghana Society of Physically Disabled; all of them also need some money. Ten percent of the Common Fund is allocated to them, and that one, we need to support them.”
Mr. Owusu Appiah said in all, about GH¢540,000 was disbursed to 183 PWDs who qualified to receive the items and other forms of support.
He explained that the amount represented the combined allocations for the 2025 fourth quarter and 2026 first quarter.
“So in all, we disbursed around GH¢540,000. One hundred and eighty-three persons with disabilities qualified to receive these items. We combined two quarters, 2025 fourth quarter and 2026 first quarter, and the total is around GH¢540,000.”
He disclosed that the Department of Social Welfare has a monitoring team that regularly visits beneficiaries to ensure that the items and financial support provided are being put to proper use.
Mr. Owusu Appiah commended the government for increasing the allocation for Persons with Disabilities from three percent to five percent, saying the increase would enable the Assembly to support more vulnerable persons.
According to him, the initiative was aimed at empowering PWDs who may otherwise struggle to secure employment to establish sustainable livelihoods and become productive members of society.
The Municipal Chief Executive for Techiman, Hon. Kwaku Adjei Mensah, said the government had introduced measures to empower Persons with Disabilities and improve their socio-economic conditions.
According to him, the support would help reduce the number of vulnerable persons who depend on others for their daily needs.
He added that the government was committed to discouraging begging on the streets by creating opportunities for vulnerable persons to become self-reliant.
“The government is introducing measures to empower Persons with Disabilities and improve their socio-economic conditions. This support will help reduce the number of vulnerable people who depend on others for their daily needs and create opportunities for them to become self-reliant.”
Nana Adu Kyeremah Hansua Kontrehene also urged beneficiaries and their relatives to make good use of the support provided.
He encouraged PWDs of school-going age to attend school and acquire the necessary skills and education to improve their prospects in the future.
“I urge the beneficiaries and their relatives to make good use of the support provided. Those of school-going age should also attend school and acquire the necessary skills and education for their future.”
Some of the beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the government and the Techiman Municipal Assembly for the assistance.They also appealed to their fellow Persons with Disabilities who engage in street begging to desist from the practice and take advantage of available support and opportunities to become self-reliant.
“We are grateful to the government and the Techiman Municipal Assembly for the support. We appeal to our fellow Persons with Disabilities who engage in street begging to desist from it and take advantage of the available support and opportunities to become self-reliant.”
The beneficiaries said the assistance would provide them with an opportunity to improve their livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to their families and communities..
Source: Newspyramid.com
