The Municipal Chief Executive for Ahanta West, Ing. Ebenezer Kofi Aidoo, has charged Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to prioritize investment that will improve and sustain their livelihoods, other than reliance on charity.
His call comes after a massive disbursement of the Assembly’s Common Fund reserved for PWDs on Friday, 21 August 2026, at a ceremony held at the forecourt of the Municipal Assembly.
Beneficiaries received deep freezers, sewing machines and other business tools and equipment, as well as financial assistance for education, medical care and business start-ups.
Addressing beneficiaries, the MCE said the support should be seen as an investment in their dignity and productive capacity, not as charity.
“What you need is opportunity, tools, and support to be self-reliant and productive,” he said.
He urged beneficiaries to put the items and money to their intended use and to grow the businesses they establish with the support.
“We want to see your businesses grow. We want to see you employ others. We want to see you move from dependence to independence,” he added.
The MCE said the disbursement had been made possible by an increase in the Disability Common Fund allocation from 3 percent to 5 percent of the District Assemblies Common Fund, effective 2026. He said this had pushed the national allocation for PWDs from GH¢225.3 million in 2025 to GH¢438.5 million in 2026, enabling the Assembly to reach more beneficiaries and provide more substantial support.
He described Friday’s exercise as the biggest-ever disability fund disbursement in the history of the Ahanta West Municipal Assembly, both in terms of the number of beneficiaries and the value of the support provided.
Western Regional President of the Ghana Federation of Disability, Richard Asare, used the occasion to appeal to Municipal and District Assemblies to stop delaying the release of funds meant for Persons with Disabilities.
He said keeping disability funds for prolonged periods before disbursement could undermine the purpose for which the money was allocated, particularly for beneficiaries who need capital to start businesses or meet urgent needs.
Mr. Asare also challenged beneficiaries to turn the support into opportunities rather than allowing the equipment or funds to go to waste, urging them to take proper care of the items, invest the start-up money wisely and use the support to build sustainable livelihoods.
The Ahanta West Municipal Assembly says it will establish a Disability Desk to work with the Ghana Federation of the Disabled in planning and budgeting for future disability interventions.
By Portia Cudjoe
