The President of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Oti Region, Emmanuel Donkor, has called on the government to include persons with disabilities in major livelihood and social intervention programmes to help reduce poverty and promote self-reliance.
He said while targeted support was available to some PWDs, many were still excluded from broader initiatives such as Nkoko Nkitinkitin, agribusiness programmes and other government livelihood schemes.
According to him, including PWDs in such programmes would provide them with more sustainable sources of income rather than relying mainly on occasional assistance.
Mr Donkor made the call in an interview with Adom News during a start-up kits distribution exercise organised by the Krachi East Municipal Assembly.
He said periodic support was important but stressed that PWDs needed to be part of programmes that could provide them with long-term economic opportunities.
“The support is helpful, but we need to be part of the bigger programmes that create consistent income and growth,” he said.
He added that government must make disability inclusion deliberate and ensure that PWDs were given equal opportunities to participate in economic activities.
PWDs receive start-up kits
At the event, the Krachi East Municipal Assembly presented various items to selected PWD beneficiaries to help them establish or expand their businesses.
The items included refrigerators, industrial sewing machines, farm inputs, cash support, fufu pounding machines, cassava grinding machines and other productivity tools.
The support was funded through the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), from the statutory five per cent allocation set aside for persons with disabilities.
The initiative is aimed at helping beneficiaries generate income, become economically independent and improve their livelihoods.
Assembly warns against selling items
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Krachi East, Sarfo Nketia, urged beneficiaries to use the items for their intended purposes to ensure that the support translates into meaningful economic benefits.
He warned beneficiaries against selling the equipment and said the Assembly would intensify monitoring to ensure that the items were being properly used.
Mr Nketia also reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to promoting inclusive development and ensuring that vulnerable groups were given opportunities to improve their living conditions.
He commended President John Mahama for what he described as efforts to prioritise social interventions that place vulnerable groups at the centre of national development.
