Story: Mary Ankrah
Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) at the Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Assembly (LEKMA) can now access their two per cent allocation of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund (DACF).
One of the aims of the fund is to reduce poverty among all PWD’s, especially PWD’s in the informal sector who are most often in the majority.
Speaking at a one-day workshop for PWD’s on the guidelines in accessing the PWD’s two per cent of the DACF at the LEKMA, the Member of Parliament for Krowor Constituency and Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Nii Oakley Quaye-Kumah, advised all the PWD’s to start income generating activities for their socio-economic empowerment and development, which is one of the main objectives for establishing the fund.
“Starting your own income generating activities must be supported with an increase in your saving attitudes, as your investment drive, so that you will be able to have some sustainable amount of money to rely on when you grow old,” he said.
Nii Quaye-Kumah, however, cautioned the PWDs not to use the DACF money on extravagant lives, funerals and other irrelevant expenses.
He also entreated Ghanaians to stop treating PWD’s in a way that made them look as if they were second class human beings, whereas they were like any able persons.
“I wish that they are now referred to as differently able persons, instead of referring to them as PWDs”, he added.
In addition, the minister said in order for Ghana to attain its middle income status by 2015, there was the need for the nation and government to empower persons with any form of disability with the necessary skills and training for them to meaningfully contribute their quota to the socio-economic development of their country.
He also encouraged the government through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), the National Council For Persons with disabilities (NCPD), the Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD), the DFMC’s and all other stakeholders to put in their necessary monitoring mechanisms to ensure that the funds were used for the purpose it was meant for.
He urged that the disability Act of 2006 be well implemented in ensuring that persons with disabilities had access to employment opportunities, health, and sanitation and good and safe drinking water, among others.
“Our district and municipal assemblies all over the country must also refuse to issue building permits for buildings which totally disregard the needs of PWD’s, as part of efforts to enforce the implementation of the Disability Act,” he said.
The minister also appealed to the Ghana Police Service to take into account the special needs of PWD’s during arrests and detentions and especially during confinement.
He encouraged the society and families to show love and compassion to members who were physically challenged so that they would feel part of the society and they would not go on the streets to beg for alms with their children.
Nii Quaye-Kumah also said the United Nation (UN) in its most recent resolution 65/186 would convene a high-level meeting on disability this year with the aim of including all persons with disabilities in development efforts of all member countries in the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment