MMDAs tampering with disability fund

Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) are borrowing from the two per cent of the disability common fund leading to delay in disbursement to beneficiaries, Mr Yaw Ofori-Debrah, President of the Ghana Federation of the Disabled, has said.

He said the fund is meant to minimize poverty among all Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), particularly those outside the formal employment sector, and enhance their social image through dignified labour, however, sometimes the fund is not properly disbursed.

Mr Ofori-Debrah said made this known at Takoradi, during a media interaction geared towards forming the Western Regional branch of the Media Caucus on Disability, over the weekend.

“Information we are gathering is that some MMDAs borrow money from the District Assembly Common Fund meant for Persons with Disability (PWDs)…actually they dip their hands in the fund,” he said.

The President added: “other assemblies tie strings to the disbursement of the fund, which falls outside the formula designed for its management.”

He said some Chief Executives of the assemblies organize durbars during which the money is disbursed, adding, “this is not right...it is against the law and undermines members social dignity…this is not a favour…it is a constitutional obligation.”

The common fund is meant to support the income generating activities of individual persons with disabilities, as a means of economic empowerment, and also to provide educational support for children, students and trainees with disabilities.

It is also meant to support PWDs to have access to technical aids and other assistive devices and equipment.

Mr Ofori-Debrah expressed worry over the assemblies’ failure to utilize the fund towards improving the wellbeing of the members.

He said the federation would soon embark on a capacity building exercise to sensitise members of Organisation of PWDs in the districts to enable them to advocate and assert their rights.