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The Ghana Federation of Disability Organization (GFD) has made a passionate appeal to the government to increase the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) for Persons With Disabilities (PWD) from three percent to four or five percent.
According to the Organization, though the three percent is a change of money but will be much better for the members and improve their livelihood if the government increases it.
The 1992 constitution made provisions to cater for the economic, political, and social inclusion of all PWDs across the country in the local government system. As part of efforts to empower Persons with Disabilities, the Government of Ghana in 2005, introduced the Disability Fund (currently 3%) which is deducted from the District Assembly Common Fund and paid to a separate account under the District Assembly.
The Disability Fund seeks to support income-generating activities as a means of economic empowerment; provide educational support; build the capacity of PWDs in the districts to enable them to advocate and assert their rights and undertake awareness raising and sensitization on disability issues, and support access to technical aids and other assistive devices and equipment.
But, addressing the press in Sunyani on Thursday, November 24, 2022, at a day sensitization workshop organized by the Federation with support of the UK aid and Ghana Somubi Dwamadie to sensitize members of the federation and other stakeholders on Revised DACF Guidelines 2022, National President, Mr. Mathew Annor Kodom observed that even though the current three percent is a change of money but Oliver ask for more if the government could move from the three percent to four or five percent for them.
“The amount is somehow good but like Oliver, we are appealing that it should be increased. For now, it is 3% of the fund that comes to the assembly so is a change of money but the way we use to assist members is what we don’t like, but still, like Oliver, we are appealing that the government moves it to maybe 4 or 5 percent.”
Mr. Kodom continued that over the years their members have had challenges with how the fund money is disbursed and the political interference in the disbursement of the money and for that matter to bridge the gap or limitations on District Assembly Common Fund for Persons With Disabilities, UK aid and Ghana Somubi Dwamadie assisted them to tour the whole Ghana to visit each district to find out from their member’s problems and challenges that are facing the utilization and the issuing of the common fund.
He revealed that after engaging their members across the country they have been able to put up revised DACF guidelines for 2022 and beyond which they have reported to their members and sensitize them on how they can access the fund.
Leadership and Governance Advisor at Ghana Somubi Dwamadie, Mrs. Vivian Sarpomaa called on the media to be the voice of persons with disabilities by amplifying issues and challenging of them and also helping to reduce stigma and discrimination against PWDs in the country.
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