The Ghana Federation of Disability Organization has sensitized its members in the Upper East Region on the 2022 revised guidelines for the management and disbursement of their allocations of the District Assemblies Common Fund.
The sensitization programme, which is being organized in collaboration with Ghana Somubi Dwumadie with funding support from the UK Aid, is aimed at familiarizing Persons With Disabilities across the 16 regions of Ghana with the content of the new document.
The programme has, so far, taken place in 12 regions with the Upper East Region being the latest and has brought together regional and district Social Welfare officers as well as leaders of PWDs groups in the various regions for the exercise.
The welfare officers and the groups’ leaders are expected to, in turn, enlighten their members at the district level on the content of the new guidelines ahead of its approval by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and subsequent implementation.
Speaking at the Upper East Regional sensitization exercise in Bolgatanga on March 17, 2023, Leadership and Governance advocate at Ghana Somubi Dwumadie, Vivian Sarpomaa Fiscian said the exercise will ensure that PWDs in the various districts are well-informed about the new guidelines and empowered for its effective implementation.
“We are going around the 16 regions to sensitize all PWDs to ensure that they are well-informed, they are empowered to ensure effective implementation of the newly revised guidelines. This is also to ensure accountability, transparency and compliance with the new guidelines”.
The revised guidelines, Madam Vivian explained, followed an evidence-based review of that of 2010, which identified lapses with the existing guidelines and its implementation.
She is, therefore, hopeful that the new document, when implemented, will address the challenges and improve the wellbeing of PWDs and thus, urged the Local Government Ministry to expedite its approval process.
“We can only encourage and urge the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development to expedite action on the signing of the newly revised document so that it becomes fully operational. PWDs cannot wait to welcome this new document, that will ensure improved wellbeing of everybody who needs to benefit from the Common Fund for PWDs”.
President of Society of the Physically Disabled, Mathew Annor Kodom said the rules of engagement clearly spelt out in the new document will end confrontations between social welfare officers and PWDs accessing the fund as well as curb abuses with the current access guidelines.
On her part, representative of the Regional Coordinating Council, Yvonne Wonchua urged participants to take the exercise seriously and study the guidelines keenly in order to ensure that challenges encountered in the disbursement of the fund are addressed.
