The Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly (CCMA) last year disbursed more than GH¢7,100.00 to 48 Persons with Disability (PWD) in the Metropolis under their two per cent Common Fund allocation.
The amount, which ranges between GH¢200.00 and GH¢500.00, was to serve as seed money to enable them start their own businesses to improve upon their living conditions.
Mrs. Felicia Ankrah, Metro Director, Social Welfare, who told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) recently, said the money was disbursed based on the projects the beneficiaries were executing.
It is government policy that two per cent of the district assembly Common Fund be reserved for persons with disabilities to support them and their activities to enable them contribute to national development.
Mrs Ankrah explained that parents, who had children suffering from Cerebral Palsyare, also be given assistance to start their private businesses. Currently the Fund supports about 15 parents who have children with such condition.
She said 11 people from the Ghana Society for Disabled Children were also beneficiaries of the Fund with another 11 from the Ghana National Association for the Deaf, who have taken up projects such as rabbit farming, vegetable cultivation, bakery and the construction of offices for the groups.
Mrs Ankrah, however, expressed concern about the way some parents hide disabled children due to stigmatization and asked those parents to contact the Department of Social Welfare for help and advice.
She also advised parents and people with disabilities to desist from the practice of begging for alms on the streets since the government had taken the initiative to support them.
