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PWDs in Agortime Ziofe receive entrepreneurial support

Some Persons living With Disabilities (PWDs) in the Agortime Ziofe District of the Volta Region have received working tools from the District's share of the Disability Common Fund.

Date Created : 12/4/2019 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : Samuel Akumatey

At an event at Agortime Kpetoe to mark the 2019 International Day of Disabled Persons, 15 beneficiaries received yarns for weaving kente, while four seamstresses and three tailors received industrial sewing machine sets.

A barbering kit was provided for one, a farmer received sheep for rearing, and four who were schooling, were supported financially.

Two PWDs also received funding to access health services, bringing to a total of GH¢93,254 worth of interventions given out.

Togbe Tsali IV, District Director of Social Welfare and Community Development, said the District had resolved to fully empower those with entrepreneurial commitment, and was providing them with seed capital support for various trades of their choices.

He said most past beneficiaries were discovered to have sold or under-utilised their support packages, therefore the progress of new recipients would be carefully monitored, and asked them to sustain their businesses or be blacklisted.

Togbe Tsali said capital ventures would be set up in the various zones to help provide employment for all PWDs, and that the Assembly had outlined a distribution formulae that ensured gender equality.

He said land would be acquired at Ziofe for animal husbandry, and a weaving centre also to be established, specifically for PWDs.Mr John Amenyah,

District Chief Executive (DCE) said Government appreciated hardworking PWDs and urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the assistance. â€œIt is the tax payer's money that was given to you, and you must work to show your workmanship and potentials for further supportâ€, he said.The DCE asked PWDs

to work towards weaning themselves from the fund, and develop their potentials so society could benefit from them.

He said the Assembly would ensure all public facilities were made disability friendly, and encouraged all to register with the Social Welfare department.

Mr Amenya further asked members of the community to support PWDs, saying "they are one of us and we must not discriminate against them".

Mr Prosper Kpoku, Chairman of the Association of PWDs in the District appealed to government to increase their share of the common fund, and scrap taxes imposed on purchasing items for their use.

This year's celebration is on the theme "The future is accessibleâ", and the PWDs embarked on a route march with placards to create awareness on their plight.The District has a total of 638 persons living with disabilities, who were treated to a feast as part of the celebrations.