PHOTOS: Akatsi North District Assembly Supports People with Disability

The Akatsi North District Assembly has launched a support program for People with Disabilities (PWDs) in the district, as part of its efforts to improve their welfare and promote inclusivity. The program, which is being funded by the District Assembly Common Fund - PWD component and supported by the Assembly's Internally Generated Fund (IGF), aims to provide various forms of assistance to PWDs, including training, assistive devices, educational scholarships, medical bills, and economic empowerment.

Speaking at the ceremony on Friday, 10th October, 2025, Hon. Bless Kojo Katamani, the DCE for Akatsi North District, emphasized the importance of supporting PWDs, stating that "We are gathered here today because of the vulnerable among us-PWDs." He noted that this program is in line with the government's interest in ensuring that all PWDs live a normal life, as enshrined in Act 715 Section 42 of the Persons with Disability Act, 2006.

The DCE highlighted the various forms of support that would be provided to the PWDs, including training in apprenticeship and schooling, assistive devices such as wheelchairs, white canes, crutches, and hearing aids, educational scholarships, medical bills, and economic empowerment. He also emphasized the importance of caregivers of persons with PWDs to register with the assembly to access some benefits.

A total of 57 PWDs, comprising 25 males and 32 females, benefited from the support, with items being distributed including 27 income generating activities, 3 assistive devices, 15 educational scholarships, 6 medical bills, and 6 benefiting from financial support for business stat ups.

"This is the second time in the year that the District Assembly is giving out such interventions to ameliorate the plight of People Living with Disabilities," Hon. Katamani stated, promising that a third phase of the intervention would be rolled out before the end of the year. He appealed to the beneficiaries to make good use of the support, warning that the District Fund Management Committee would monitor the use of the items and retrieve them if not used for the intended purpose.

The beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to the government and the assembly for the support. "I'm very impressed about what the government has done," said Benjamin Hodzi, one of the beneficiaries. "We are happy. We'll no more be beaten by rain. They should continue this way and should not forget us," added Francis Shilevi.

Other beneficiaries, including Beauty Axorsodey and Cudjoe Jiagge, also expressed their appreciation, with David Takpa stating, "My thanks goes to His Excellency the president of the Republic, the District Chief Executive, and the Member of Parliament for what they've done. Though it's not enough, we're still very grateful."

The intervention is part of the assembly's efforts to promote inclusivity and support vulnerable groups in the district, with a total cost of five hundred thousand cedis for the second phase of the intervention.