Ninety Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the Shama municipality of the Western region have received various forms of livelihood support from the Municipal Assembly to boost their economic independence and improve their quality of life.
The initiative, financed through the statutory three per cent allocation of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), provided beneficiaries with essential start-up tools and equipment including milling machines, deep freezers, barbering kits, metal containers, and sacks of charcoal, among others.
The intervention is part of the Assembly’s broader strategy to promote social inclusion and ensure that persons with disabilities are empowered to contribute meaningfully to local economic development.
One of the beneficiaries, Raymond Adu Essilfie, a herbal practitioner and father of two, shared a deeply moving story about his journey. Once a thriving herbal specialist, his life took a painful turn after a motorcycle accident led to the amputation of one of his legs. The ordeal brought his business to a halt and plunged him into years of hardship.
With the Assembly’s support, he will receive a metal container to help restart and grow his herbal medicine business.
He expressed profound appreciation for the intervention, describing it as “a renewed source of hope and a lifeline to rebuild my dreams.”
He also appealed to the Assembly and other benevolent individuals to assist him in obtaining certification for his herbal products, which he believes will help him reach a wider market and sustain his business.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Municipal Chief Executive for Shama, Paul Otis Dentu, underscored the importance of the initiative, stressing that government remains committed to building an inclusive society where no one is left behind.
He noted that the Assembly has compiled a comprehensive database of all persons with disabilities in the municipality, in collaboration with the PWDs Association. This, he said, will guide future disbursements to ensure that every eligible individual benefits.
Mr. Dentu urged beneficiaries to make good use of the items to improve their livelihoods, adding that the Assembly will deploy a monitoring team to track progress and ensure the resources are used judiciously.
He further appealed to those yet to receive assistance to exercise patience, assuring them that they will be captured in subsequent phases of the support programme.
“We are committed to empowering all persons with disabilities to become self-reliant and productive members of society,” he said.
The initiative, he added, reflects government’s resolve to foster inclusive growth and create equal opportunities for all citizens, regardless of physical limitations.
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