The Afadzato South District Assembly in the Volta Region has introduced an initiative to reserve unskilled labour in the public sector for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

This is to help economically empower PWDs in the jurisdiction to enhance their livelihoods and that of their families. 

The Afadzato South District Chief Executive, Etornam James Flolu, announced this at a ceremony to distribute startup kits to some 40 PWDs. 

"So the current district hospital that they are building, we are going to speak to the Ghana Health Service to make sure that some of the jobs that some of these our brothers and sisters (PWDs) can do, we reserve it for them.

As filling forms, and other duties that may not need mobility, they can do it so that all in all we make sure that we drag everybody along in this developmental agenda that is being championed by the Akufo-Addo-led-government”. 

The district assembly disability Fund was introduced to provide financial support to PWDs to engage in economic activities to earn a living, making them self-reliant. 

The second batch of the disbursement of the fund under Mr. Flolu’s administration saw 40 beneficiaries provided with grinding machines, kiosks, Agro inputs, deep freezers, carpentry tools, laptops, and a printer. 

Those who received kiosks were given an additional  GhC1,200 to stock the kiosks with items they desire to trade. 

Mr. James Flolu said that the provision of startup kits is geared towards the growth of the micro-economy of the district and ensuring PWDs are not left out of the government’s developmental agenda. 

He advised the beneficiaries to be cautious of their expenditure to prevent them from spending their capital. 

He said a supervising team would be instituted to monitor the trading activities of the beneficiaries and advise them on best practices to sustain their businesses. 

Mr. Flolu added that the team would also report to the assembly periodically on their findings which would be factored into future decisions on how best to deploy the disability fund provided by the central government. 

The Afadzato South District Disability Fund Management Representative, Rev. Lordson Tagbodza, implored the beneficiaries to make profitable use of the startup kits to enhance their livelihoods.

He appealed to the assembly to consider providing financial support to students with disability to help them access education. 

A beneficiary, Evans Dzogbati, was optimistic the items provided to him would help shape his path to success as a young graphic designer.