The Nandom Municipal Assembly in the Upper West Region has approved GH¢496,520 in financial and material support for 89 persons with disabilities (PWDs) under the October 2026 disbursement of the Disability Fund.
The support is expected to help beneficiaries establish and expand businesses, access healthcare and education, acquire assistive devices and address other essential needs to improve their livelihoods.
Speaking at the disbursement ceremony at the Nandom Municipal Assembly, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Anthony Ziniel, said the intervention was aimed at promoting economic independence, dignity and social inclusion among persons with disabilities.
He stressed that the initiative went beyond the distribution of money and materials, describing it as an investment in the future and wellbeing of beneficiaries.
“Today’s gathering is not merely about distributing financial and material assistance. It is about creating opportunities, reducing economic hardship, promoting independence and ensuring that persons with disabilities have equal opportunities to participate meaningfully in the development of our municipality,” he stated.
According to the MCE, GH¢390,000 has been earmarked for 72 beneficiaries to support income-generating activities, making it the largest component of the disbursement.
Five beneficiaries will receive GH¢16,600 for medication, while GH¢14,600 has been allocated to four people for educational purposes and GH¢8,000 to another beneficiary under educational support.
Additionally, GH¢13,520 has been approved for two beneficiaries under organisational development, while two beneficiaries will receive GH¢12,000 for care support and another beneficiary GH¢5,000 under a separate care-support category.
An amount of GH¢32,800 has also been allocated to one beneficiary for an assistive device, while GH¢4,000 has been earmarked for another beneficiary under the election category.
Anthony Ziniel urged beneficiaries, particularly those receiving assistance for business activities, to invest the funds in their approved ventures and manage them responsibly to ensure sustainable returns.
“The success of this programme depends not only on the resources provided but also on the commitment, honesty and responsible actions of the beneficiaries,” he cautioned.
He further assured beneficiaries that the Assembly, through the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development and the Disability Fund Management Committee, would monitor the utilisation of the support to ensure accountability and assess its impact.
The MCE emphasised that monitoring was necessary to ensure the resources reached the intended beneficiaries and achieved their intended objectives.
He also called on families, traditional authorities, religious leaders, educational institutions and other stakeholders to help eliminate discrimination and create an environment where persons with disabilities could participate fully in community development.
“Disability should never be a reason for discrimination, exclusion or denial of opportunities,” he emphasised.
He encouraged the beneficiaries to remain active contributors to the development of their communities, insisting that their abilities, experiences and ideas were essential to the progress of the municipality.
The MCE said the ultimate measure of the intervention would not be the amount disbursed but the tangible improvements it brings to the lives of beneficiaries and their families.
The beneficiaries, who were visibly happy while receiving their individual support, expressed joy at the gesture and assured that they would utilise the funds for the right purposes.
By Ibrahim Abubakari Wangara
