Disabled call for share of Common Fund

The Administrator of District Assemblies Common Fund has been called on to channel the share of the society of the physically disabled of the Common Fund to its accounts in the various Municipal and District capitals.
Mr. Effah Guakro, president of Nkoranza district branch of the society who made the call explained that the measure would remove problems that branches of the society encountered from the Assemblies.
He said, in spite of a government directive to Assemblies to release two per cent of the fund for the rehabilitation of the disabled, “only a fraction of the main sum reaches the disabled”.
Mr. Guakro made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Nkoranza at the celebration of the national day of the disabled and mentioned challenges confronting the disabled.
“What is more disheartening is how the leadership of branches of the society would have to impress on the Assemblies on several times before they would receive part of their due share.
“If the money is sent to our (branches) accounts it will greatly relieve us from the confrontations that we have with the authorities of the Assemblies”, he stated.
Mr. Guakro expressed concern about how a number of disabled persons were denied formal education and promising ones in basic school were not encouraged to pursue senior high level education and tertiary institutions.
He appealed to the government to set up a scholarship scheme to support the education of the disabled in second cycle institutions and the universities.
The district branch president cautioned parents with disabled children not to hide them at home but rather to enroll them in special schools so they would become assets and not liabilities.
“There are more than 100 disabled persons in Nkoranza District and a number of them have been able to acquire skills in shoe-making, dressmaking and radio mechanics at the craft production centre and are managing themselves”, he said.
He deplored the practice by some disabled to by the road side to beg for alms and advised such people to desist from the practice.
Mr. Guakro commended Mr. James Kwabena Appiah-Awuah, Nkoranza South District Chief Executive for his concern for the disabled, saying through his efforts the District Assembly last year provided 2000 Ghana cedis for their up-keep.