On the 8th of December 2022, the committee that manages the 3% Districts’ Assemblies Common Fund designated for persons with disabilities were oriented and trained on the new guidelines for managing and disbursing fund at GESDI in Saltpond. Committee members from all three implementing districts and municipality were present. The training was facilitated by Mr. George Frimpong, the GFD president for Central Region also a member of the fund committee who were in charge of drafting the new guidelines.
Mrs. Abigail Addo-Quaye the programs director for WIN gave a welcome address, introduced WIN and the PERD project. She explained the need for this orientation to equip the fund committee members with the new guidelines which will help them better manage the fund and also sensitize the PWDs and caregivers of some PWDs on the guidelines to promote accessibility and accountability.
Mr. Frimpong started by giving a brief introduction on the history of the fund, why it was started and the purpose of it. He gave the history behind the existence of the fund and how it increased by the current government. He mentioned that the committee should have at least one representative from the National Council on Persons with Disability however, the council does not reps in all the districts, municipals and metros in the country. The rep is to serve as the secretary on the committee and in the absence of that person the social welfare officer in the district serves as the secretary.
There are eight (8) sections of the guidelines. Section one outlines the aims and objectives of the fund. The fund aims at minimizing poverty among all persons with disabilities through sustainable decent work and the enhancement of their social image through dignified labour. Some of the objectives of the fund is to support income generating activities of PWDs as well as empower them economically, provide educational support for PWDs and support PWDs to gain access to technical aids and other assistive devices.
He moved on to section two where there are spelt out guidelines for fund committee members. In this section he explained what the fund committee is, composition of the committee, and the roles each member plays as well as the various groups represented on the committee. The National Council on Persons with Disability District Officer serves as the secretary however in an MMDA where there is no representative from the council, the District Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development shall be the secretary. There is a representative from the various disability groups, all representatives shall serve on the DFMC for a term of two years and may be eligible for re-nomination or re-appointment for a second term. Co-opted members shall not be permanent members of the Committee but shall serve on the Committee when the need arises.
The Committee meets within a quarter for the purposes of managing and disbursing the quarterly allocated funds. The guideline states that; The fund Committee members are responsible for, among others, consider and shortlist applications for the grant of the District Assembly Common Fund for persons with disabilities. They conduct needs assessment of the shortlisted applicants, vet and approve the applications for the grant of the District Assembly Common Fund for persons with disabilities.
The section three of the guideline spells out the responsibilities of each of the stakeholders and members on the committee. The guidelines continue with the areas for funding that the fund can cater for. These are some of the areas for funding under the District Assembly Common Fund for persons with disabilities.
a) Income support needs for mothers/ caregivers who are assessed to be giving more than 15 hours care to their wards with disabilities
b) Financial Support (economic empowerment) for caregivers and mothers of children with disabilities who are not in a position to work
c) Training in employable skills and apprenticeship
d) Engage in income-generating activities (working tools and capital) for persons with disabilities
e) Support for children, students, and vocational apprenticeship trainees with disabilities, with school fees and bursary.
f) Provision of technical aids, assistive devices and equipment
g) Registration of PWDs on the National Health Insurance Scheme
h) Support recreational activities for persons with disabilities in the communities particularly in the rural areas
i) Advocacy and awareness creation on the rights and responsibilities of persons with disabilities at the district level by organizations of persons with disabilities;
j) Strengthening of organizations of persons with disabilities with respect to them participating in the observation of national and international events
The DACF shall be accessed by:
a) Individuals who are persons with disabilities and are not working in the public/formal sector or not in any gainful employment activity.
b) Mothers/ caregivers of persons with disabilities.
c) Self-help groups and persons with mental health conditions
d) Persons with disabilities who are not members of any organisation of persons with disabilities.
e) Persons with disabilities who are members of organisations of persons with disabilities
The National Council on Persons with Disability monitors and evaluate the management and disbursement of the District Assembly Common Fund for Persons with Disabilities in compliance with Section 42 (2) of the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715). The Council shall submit the report on its findings of the Office of the Common Fund Administrator. The Parliamentary Select Committee on Local Government and Rural Development shall also monitor and evaluate the management and disbursement of the District Assembly Common Fund for persons with disabilities. At the local levels, the National Council on Persons with Disability District Offices, GFD District representatives, any organization of persons with disabilities, District Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development oversee the monitoring and evaluation of the fund.
The orientation was a success, the committee members asked questions on the guidelines, shared experiences and best practices. Madam Abigail asked how frequently PWDs especially WGDs benefit from the fund. They responded that as when the funds are released, they vet the applications they have and pick out the beneficiaries who qualify and give them the support they require. Mr. Mogtari the DSW officer for Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam District added that, they make it a conscious effort to monitor the support the fund gives to PWDs.