The funds disbursed through the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development would among other things assist the 133 beneficiaries, to pay for their education and hospital bills and buy tools to start their own businesses to become economically independent.

They are made up of 68 males and 65 females.

Mr. Nicholas Fiifi Baako, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), who supervised the disbursement process at Assin Fosu, said it was in fulfilment of the mandatory three per cent allocation of its share of District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) meant for PWDs.

The obviously elated beneficiaries received cheques for various amounts ranging from 600 to 1,700 Cedis after careful evaluation of their intended purposes, whilst others were given sewing machines, hair-dressing equipment and wheelchairs among a host of others, to aid their work and movements.

He expressed satisfaction with the good rapport and cooperation between the Assembly and PWDs in the area and assured them of continued Government support. The Assembly would closely monitor the utilization of the money, to make sure that it was properly applied to transform their living conditions to drastically reduce the number of PWDs begging on the streets, Mr Baako stated.

It would also see to it that there was equity in the disbursement of the money and that no one would be disadvantaged. Mr. Oppong Sekyi Akomea, the Municipal President of the Ghana Blind Union, thanked the Government for the gesture and pledged with the beneficiaries to make judicious use of it.

He appealed to the Government to increase the PWDs Common Fund allocation from the current three to five per cent while ensuring that buildings were made disability friendly.