Persons Living With Disabilities (PWDs) should not be viewed as objects of sympathy but as citizens with rights, talents, skills, and aspirations, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Tano South, Emmanuel Kwame Frimpong, has reiterated.

He noted that for far too long, persons with disabilities have faced barriers limiting their access to education, employment, healthcare, and economic opportunities, stressing that these challenges are not caused by disability itself but by society’s failure to provide the appropriate support systems and enabling environment.

Mr. Kwame Frimpong made these remarks on Wednesday in Bechem, in the Ahafo Region, during a ceremony where the Tano South Municipal Assembly presented business equipment and financial support to 72 PWDs to enhance their livelihoods.

The items distributed under the Economic Empowerment initiative included refrigerators, fufu pounding machines, sewing machines, spraying machines, industrial machines, knitting machines, motorbikes, container kiosks, and car spraying machines.

Under the Financial Assistance module, 18 PWDs already engaged in various businesses received a total amount of Fifty-Six Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢56,000.00) to help expand their operations and improve their livelihoods.

In addition, seven PWDs received educational support, while three others benefited from medical assistance.

The MCE emphasized that Municipal and District Assemblies operate under the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2006 (Act 715), and the principles of social justice and equity, noting that these frameworks make inclusion a duty rather than an option.

He explained that the intervention forms part of the Assembly’s deliberate efforts to translate policy into tangible action, adding that the items were carefully selected based on individual requests and technical advice from the Assembly.

“The items and funds are given to you in trust and confidence to help you improve your livelihoods and build sustainable businesses. I urge you to use them strictly for the purpose for which they have been given,” he cautioned.

The Tano South Municipal Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, Gladys Zuuri, disclosed that 95 PWDs in the municipality had earlier undergone vocational skills training, bringing the total number of beneficiaries for 2025 to 167.

She noted that limited resources mean many PWDs are still on standby to benefit from the Disability Fund, stressing that how beneficiaries utilize the support received would influence future interventions.

“This support marks a new beginning of growth, independence, and dignity for persons living with disabilities in the Tano South Municipality,” she added.

The Member of Parliament for the Tano South Constituency, Charles Asiedu, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving the socio-economic wellbeing of vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities.

He cautioned beneficiaries against selling the equipment or misusing the funds, warning that such actions would defeat the purpose of the intervention.

Mr. Asiedu further announced that he would conduct routine, unannounced follow-ups on beneficiaries’ businesses, adding that those found to have sold their equipment would be reprimanded.