The support was presented at the forecourt of the Ablekuma North Municipal Assembly as part of the Assembly’s commitment to inclusive development and the implementation of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) allocation for Persons with Disabilities.

The presentation was led by the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Kalamu Musah Adamu, and the Municipal Coordinating Director, Mrs. Vera Akuffo-Mante, in the presence of traditional leaders, clergy, Zongo community leaders, Heads of Departments and Units of the Assembly, and other stakeholders.

A total of 61 beneficiaries, comprising 36 males and 25 females, received various working tools and financial assistance to establish, expand or strengthen their businesses and livelihood activities.

The items distributed included 20 chest freezers, a double-decker refrigerator, four industrial sewing machines, a tomato and pepper grinding machine, an industrial embroidery machine, a fufu grinding machine, a baking oven, 40 baking pans, a popcorn machine, a sound system and a laptop.

In addition to the working tools, beneficiaries received financial support amounting to GH?142,500.00, intended to support business expansion and educational needs.

Addressing the beneficiaries, the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Kalamu Musah Adamu, congratulated them on being selected for the intervention and urged them to make productive use of the items and financial assistance provided.

He stressed the importance the Government places on the welfare and economic empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, noting that the DACF allocation dedicated to PWDs had been increased from three per cent to five per cent.

Hon. Kalamu cautioned beneficiaries against selling or misusing the items, emphasising that the support was intended to provide sustainable livelihoods rather than serve as a one-time benefit. He explained that the Assembly, through the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development and the Business Advisory Centre (BAC), would undertake regular monitoring to assess how the support was being utilised and ensure its sustainability.

He also cautioned beneficiaries against moving from one district to another to access similar assistance more than once, urging them to allow others to benefit from the programme.

The intervention is expected to enable beneficiaries to acquire or expand income-generating activities in areas such as food processing, sewing, baking, refrigeration services, entertainment and other small-scale businesses.

The beneficiaries expressed their appreciation to the Government and the Ablekuma North Municipal Assembly for the support and pledged to use the items and financial assistance responsibly to improve their livelihoods and contribute to the development of the Municipality.