Common funds to be Investigated - Gender Minister

Nana Oye Lithur, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection said on Monday that investigations would be conducted into the disbursement of the two per cent common fund paid to Persons with Disability (PWDs).

She said pragmatic measures needed to be carried out to ensure that PWD’s were actually given the fund, adding that there was the need to be able to target and get PWD’s who were really in need.

Nana Oye Lithur said this when Mr Andrew Okaikoi, Acting Chairman of the Disability Council, paid a courtesy call on her to give an over-view of the challenges of the council.

The council's term expired last year.

She said there would be the utmost need for the creation of a database to ascertain PWDs and categorize them according to their social needs to help ensure there were no duplications within the sector.

She expressed reservation about the full implementation of the Disability Act, stressing that two years to the expiration of the 10-year moratorium, most public buildings were still unfriendly to the disabled including the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

“Gender Ministry is going to engage the services of Architecture Engineering Services Company and the Town and Country Planning to ensure that public buildings are constructed in line with the Disability Act 2005,” Nana Oye Lithur said.

Nana Oye Lithur said the ministry would consult stakeholders to re-constitute the Disability Council.

Mr Okaikoi appealed to the minister to work towards developing public places that are currently not disability friendly.

He called on the minister to help fund disability related issues and work hand in hand with other agencies to have a positive attitudinal change towards PWDs.

Meanwhile, the executives of the Mental Health Society of Ghana (MEHSOG) have called for the overhauling of the Disability Council as their members are not considered in the scheme of strategies.

"People with mental health issues are discriminated against by the Disability Council...this must stop, we must all be given equal opportunities and voice," Mr Humphrey Kofie, MEHSOG Executive Secretary, said during an interaction with Nana Oye Lithur.

He accused the Disability Council of failing to fulfill its mandate and called for immediate action to re-constitute the board to meet the need of all members.

He also complained that majority of their members were not benefiting from the common fund.