Apam (C/R), Sept. 15, GNA - The Gomoa West District Disability Fund Management
Committee (DFMC) on Tuesday organised a meeting for 350 people with disabilities in the
area on how to access the fund. Dr Mark Nii Lamptey, Technical Advisor to the DFMC who led the discussion said the fund
was established by the government to minimise poverty among people with disabilities,
especially those outside the formal sector. Dr Lamptey, who is also the Manager of Gomoaman National Health Insurance Scheme,
said the fund was aimed at supporting income generating activities of the disabled and to
provide educational support for children, students and trainees with disabilities. The technical adviser said the fund was also meant for the capacity building of people with
disabilities to enable them to advocate and assert their rights on disability issues and support
them to have access to technical aids and other assistive devices and equipment. Dr Lamptey cautioned that the fund cannot be used to sponsor children o= f persons with
disabilities who are not disabled. Mr Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah, District Chief Executive advised people wit= h disabilities not to
allow their predicaments to have an effect on them. He said disability does not connote inability and therefore people who are physically
challenged should strive to lead normal lives. Mr Aidoo-Mensah cautioned members of the DTMC to guard against fraudulent practices. Mr Francis Kojo Arthur, Member of Parliament for the area advised people with disabilities
to desist from begging and rather access the fund to pursuit gainful ventures. Two per cent of the District Assemblies 91Common Fund is set aside to support people with
disabilities in the districts, municipal and metropolitan assemblies.
