A total of 122 Persons with Disabilities in the Offinso North District of the Ashanti Region have received financial assistance, vocational equipment, educational materials and medical support under the 2025 fourth-quarter allocation of the Persons with Disabilities Common Fund.
The support, presented at a ceremony held at the forecourt of the Offinso North District Assembly, is intended to improve the livelihoods of beneficiaries, promote economic independence and reduce dependence on street begging.
The intervention included start-up capital, business equipment, mobility aids, educational assistance and the payment of medical bills.
45 Beneficiaries Receive Livelihood Equipment
Speaking during the presentation, the District Chief Executive for Offinso North, Mr Ceazar Ofosu Acheampong, said 45 beneficiaries received livelihood-support items to enable them to engage in productive economic activities.
The items included refrigerators, industrial sewing machines, fufu-processing machines and wheelchairs.
According to the DCE, the equipment was selected based on the business interests, physical needs and economic circumstances of the beneficiaries.
He said the intervention was not intended to provide temporary relief but to equip beneficiaries with practical resources that would enable them to establish sustainable businesses and earn regular incomes.
The refrigerators could support beneficiaries interested in selling cold drinks, frozen foods or other perishable products, while the industrial sewing machines would enable trained dressmakers and tailors to expand their operations.
The fufu-processing machines are also expected to support beneficiaries interested in food processing and commercial catering activities.
60 PWDs Receive Business Capital
Mr Acheampong disclosed that 60 beneficiaries received cash support to establish new businesses or expand their existing enterprises.
He explained that access to capital remained one of the major challenges facing persons with disabilities, many of whom possess vocational skills but lack the financial resources required to purchase materials, equipment or stock.
The cash support is expected to help beneficiaries enter areas such as petty trading, food processing, tailoring, farming, hairdressing and other small-scale economic activities.
The DCE urged the recipients to use the money responsibly and avoid spending it on activities unrelated to the purpose of the programme.
He encouraged them to treat the support as an opportunity to build stable businesses capable of improving their living conditions and supporting their families.
Students and Patients Also Supported
In addition to the livelihood and business assistance, 10 students with disabilities received educational-support items to facilitate their studies.
The support is intended to reduce some of the financial barriers that make it difficult for students with disabilities to remain in school and compete effectively with their peers.
Mr Acheampong said the Assembly recognised education as an important tool for promoting independence and expanding opportunities for persons with disabilities.
The medical bills of seven other beneficiaries were also fully paid under the programme.
According to the DCE, the medical assistance was provided to beneficiaries whose health conditions required urgent attention but who lacked the financial capacity to settle their bills.
The combined interventions demonstrate the broad nature of the PWD Common Fund, which supports livelihood development, education, healthcare and social inclusion.
Support Based on Consultations
Mr Acheampong said the District Assembly consulted leaders of various disability groups before selecting beneficiaries and determining the type of assistance they required.
He explained that the consultative approach was necessary to ensure that the support responded to the actual needs of beneficiaries rather than providing items that would not be useful to them.
Representatives of persons with disabilities were involved in identifying priority areas and assessing applications submitted for support.
The DCE said this helped the Assembly distribute the funds more fairly and ensure that beneficiaries received assistance suited to their skills, businesses, education or medical conditions.
He reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to transparency, fairness and accountability in the management of the Persons with Disabilities Common Fund.
Reducing Poverty and Street Begging
The Offinso North District Assembly said the initiative was designed to reduce poverty among persons with disabilities and create sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Mr Acheampong noted that many persons with disabilities resort to street begging because they lack access to employment, business capital, vocational equipment and other economic opportunities.
He said providing beneficiaries with tools and financial resources would enable them to become economically active, support their households and participate more fully in community development.
The DCE stressed that disability should not prevent people from working, starting businesses or making meaningful contributions to society.
He therefore urged communities, employers and institutions to create more inclusive opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Beneficiaries Urged to Protect the Investment
Mr Acheampong advised beneficiaries to take proper care of the equipment and use the funds for their intended purposes.
He cautioned against selling the items or diverting the cash support into non-productive activities.
The DCE said the success of the programme would be measured by the number of beneficiaries who used the assistance to improve their income, education, health and general living conditions.
He also encouraged beneficiaries who establish successful businesses to employ or train other persons with disabilities.
The Assembly, he said, would continue monitoring the beneficiaries to assess progress and identify areas where further technical or business-development support might be required.
Beneficiaries Express Appreciation
The beneficiaries expressed appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama and the Offinso North District Assembly for the intervention.
They described the support as timely and capable of transforming their lives if used effectively.
Some of the beneficiaries said the equipment and capital would help them establish businesses they had previously been unable to start because of financial constraints.
Others said the support would enable them to expand their existing businesses, increase their incomes and reduce their dependence on relatives and other members of the public.
They also commended the District Assembly for what they described as a transparent and consultative distribution process.
The beneficiaries pledged to use the equipment, financial support and other assistance responsibly and contribute meaningfully to the development of their communities.
Promoting Inclusion and Economic Independence
The presentation forms part of broader efforts to promote social inclusion and improve economic opportunities for persons with disabilities.
The Persons with Disabilities Common Fund is intended to provide financial and material assistance that enables beneficiaries to become economically independent and participate actively in national development.
For the 122 beneficiaries in Offinso North, the latest allocation provides an opportunity to move beyond dependency and establish sustainable livelihoods.
The District Assembly expressed confidence that the intervention would help beneficiaries improve their living standards, support their families and become more self-reliant.
By combining business capital, vocational equipment, education and healthcare assistance, the programme seeks to address both the immediate and long-term needs of persons with disabilities in the district.
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