He said the Assembly remained committed to the welfare and economic empowerment of PWDs and would continue to provide the necessary financial and material support to improve their livelihoods and social wellbeing.

Mr Alenbilla made the call when he addressed residents of Akropong in the district during the distribution of start-up funds and items to 75 PWDs.

He urged relatives of PWDs to assist them in accessing the District Social Welfare and Community Development Department for registration, identification, selection and support.

The DCE said the Assembly had already supported more than 80 PWDs this year, in addition to about 85 beneficiaries who received support last year.

He added that the Assembly had targeted an additional 80 PWDs to benefit from the programme by the end of 2026.

Mr Alenbilla explained that the timely release of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) had facilitated the distribution of the support, while also creating opportunities for new applicants and enabling the Assembly to identify and support more beneficiaries.

He urged the beneficiaries to use the items and funds for their intended purposes rather than diverting them to other activities, particularly selling them for short-term financial gains.

The Assembly spent GH¢270,000 from the Disability Fund to procure the items for beneficiaries registered from various communities across the district.

Forty-seven beneficiaries received support for education, healthcare and trading capital, while 11 were given chest freezers, 10 received wheelchairs, four received industrial sewing machines and 45 received sacks of charcoal.

Other beneficiaries received a fufu-pounding machine, hair dryer and a bale of clothing.

Mr Andy Osei Kontor, District Social Welfare and Community Development Director, assured residents of the department’s readiness to provide the necessary assistance to PWDs and single mothers in the area.

Nana Karikari Akyeampong, Akropong Akyeamehene, who chaired the function, commended the government for supporting a significant number of PWDs in the area.