ASHMA spends GH¢33,000 on disabled persons

Michael Agbetsomedo (left) PWD Chairman receiving his donation from Mr. Addinortey, ASHMA MCE

Forty-three persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Ashaiman have benefited from GH¢33,000, which is part of the District Assembly Common Fund accessible by people with disabilities.

While some received cash sums, others received equipment such as laptop and desktop computers, system units, printers and deep freezers, depending on the beneficiary's request.

The equipment included two Toshiba laptops, three desktop computers, two system units, three printers and four deep freezers.

Giving account of how the beneficiaries were picked and chosen at a presentation ceremony at the forecourt of the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA) last Monday, Madam Augustina Nartey, Social Welfare Coordinator, said her outfit, after thoroughly scanning through several applications for financial support it received earlier this year from the PWDs, it invited the applicants for vetting, and the 43 were found qualified to benefit from the Common Fund.

'Social Welfare then presented the requests to the Assembly, which has been able to put all these items together, to put smiles on the faces of our brothers and sisters who have converged here today,' she said.

Numo Addinortey Addison, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ashaiman, said he was very happy when he received the PWDs' requests on their desire to work and earn a better living for themselves and their families.

He said: 'I was very happy, because, you know what? These people here did not use their disabilities as a yardstick to beg for alms on the streets. The Assembly, through the Social Welfare, will be ever ready, therefore, to support any PWD who will want to live a meaningful life, as we all want to achieve a 'Better Ghana' for all and sundry.' The Ashaiman MCE entreated the beneficiaries to ensure that they put their presents into lucrative use, saying, 'If you are able to put your cash or equipment into a good venture, you will reap more profits to expand your business.'

Mr. Daniel Ekuman, Presiding Member (PM) of the Assembly, told the beneficiaries that the assistance was a way the Assembly and the government could help improve the quality of life of people with disabilities.

Congratulating them on their move, he said: 'You have proved that you do not want to be burdens on your families. You are worth emulating; even able persons who do not know what to do with their lives are wandering about stealing what other people have toiled for.'

He sounded a word of caution to criminals who would like to take advantage of the beneficiaries' disabilities to rob them of their properties, warning, 'because when we grab you, I can assure you that the law will severely cause you indelible pain.'

He entreated families of the beneficiaries to ensure that they assisted them (beneficiaries) in the way they would utilise their benefits, and to further ensure that they assist the beneficiaries to open bank savings for future expansion of their ventures.

Mr. Michael Agbetsomedo, Chairman of the PWDs, expressed immense appreciation to both the Social Welfare and ASHMA for their support.  He said the association of the PWDs would form a supervisory team to ensure that the recipients did not divert their presents for other dubious gains, but rather use them for their intended purposes.

In addition to a deep freezer, Mr. Agbetsomedo received a sum of GH¢1,700 to expand his business.