ESMA Supports 81 Persons with Disabilities with Livelihood, Educational and Medical Assistance

The Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipal Assembly, through the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, has provided various forms of livelihood, educational, medical, and assistive support to 81 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Municipality as part of efforts to promote social inclusion, economic empowerment, and improved livelihoods.

The support, which was provided from the PWDs’ share of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), was distributed at a ceremony held on Wednesday, 24th June 2026, at the New Ejura Lorry Park, formerly the old market centre.

The programme brought together the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Rafiu Adam Seidu; the Member of Parliament for the Ejura-Sekyedumase Constituency, Hon. Alhaji Muhammad Bawah Braimah; the Municipal Coordinating Director and staff of the Assembly; Assembly Members; traditional leaders, including Nananom and Zongo chiefs; the clergy and Muslim clerics; representatives of the PWD community; heads of departments; stakeholders; and members of the public.

The intervention forms part of Government’s commitment to promoting an inclusive society in which Persons with Disabilities are provided with the necessary resources and opportunities to live dignified, productive, and independent lives.

In all, 81 beneficiaries received various forms of support. Thirty-four (34) beneficiaries received deep freezers, Coleman containers, and sachet water to support or establish water-related businesses; eleven (11) beneficiaries received assorted provisions to expand their businesses; one (1) beneficiary received an assistive device in the form of a wheelchair; fifteen (15) beneficiaries received cash support as start-up capital; fourteen (14) beneficiaries received educational support; and six (6) beneficiaries received cash assistance towards medical care.

The distribution forms part of a broader effort by the Assembly to utilise the PWDs’ share of the DACF to support sustainable livelihoods and improve the welfare of Persons with Disabilities within the Municipality.

According to information presented at the programme, a further 55 PWDs benefited from various forms of support under the same 2025 DACF allocation, bringing the total number of beneficiaries supported from the allocation to 136. The earlier beneficiaries received items and assistance including 25 deep freezers, 10 provisions packages, five bags of food commodities, four start-up capital grants, seven education-related support packages, three medical support grants, and one assistive device.

The Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Rafiu Adam Seidu, commended the Government, led by His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, for its continued commitment to supporting Persons with Disabilities through the DACF framework.

He noted that the Assembly was committed to ensuring that the PWDs’ share of the DACF was properly utilised to achieve maximum benefit for Persons with Disabilities in the Municipality.

Hon. Rafiu Adam Seidu encouraged beneficiaries to make productive use of the items and financial support received by investing them in sustainable activities capable of improving their livelihoods, supporting their families, and, where possible, creating employment opportunities for others.

He also expressed appreciation to the Member of Parliament, traditional authorities, religious leaders, Assembly Members, staff of the Assembly, and other stakeholders for their contributions towards the success of the programme.

The MCE further reaffirmed his commitment to promoting the welfare of Persons with Disabilities under his leadership, stressing that the guiding principle must remain that disability is not inability.

The Member of Parliament for the Ejura-Sekyedumase Constituency, Hon. Alhaji Muhammad Bawah Braimah, commended the Municipal Assembly and the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development for implementing the intervention and expressed his appreciation to the traditional authorities and other stakeholders for supporting the programme.

Hon. Muhammad Bawah Braimah referenced the Disability Act and highlighted the importance of ensuring that Persons with Disabilities benefit meaningfully from public interventions designed to promote inclusion and social protection. He also acknowledged the increase in the PWDs’ share of the DACF from three per cent to five per cent, describing the increase as an important step towards providing greater support to Persons with Disabilities.

The MP pledged to provide additional support to beneficiaries from his own resources where necessary and encouraged Persons with Disabilities who had not yet registered to do so, explaining that registration was important to enable the relevant authorities to identify them and provide appropriate support.

He also expressed his appreciation to the traditional leaders from both sides of the Municipality for honouring the programme with their presence and contributing to its success.

The Municipal Social welfare and Community Development Director, Mr. Shakul Muntawakil, in his presentation on the utilisation of the PWDs’ share of the DACF, explained the purpose of the fund and the process through which beneficiaries and items are identified and distributed.

He noted that a committee is responsible for determining the items to be procured and overseeing their distribution to ensure that the resources are appropriately utilised.

He further explained that with secondary and tertiary education now benefiting from Government’s free education policies, education-related support under the PWD fund could be directed towards other essential educational needs beyond the payment of school fees.

Mr. Shakul Muntawakil commended the Municipal Chief Executive for his commitment to the welfare of Persons with Disabilities and disclosed that the full allocation for the programme had been released. He further noted that, while some Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies face challenges in accessing their PWD funds, the Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality had not experienced such difficulties.

The Convenor of the programme, Nana Yaw Kontor, assured beneficiaries and the public that the distribution of items and support was conducted without political, tribal, or other forms of discrimination. He emphasised that the process was based on fairness and impartiality and encouraged any PWD who encountered challenges regarding the distribution to bring the matter to his attention for appropriate redress.

The President of the Persons with Disabilities organisation in Ejura, Hon. Aisha, expressed appreciation to the Municipal Chief Executive, the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, and other stakeholders for their efforts in making the programme successful.

She encouraged beneficiaries to put the items and support received to productive use to improve their livelihoods and cautioned against selling the items provided to them. She also acknowledged Government’s increased allocation towards the PWD fund and its contribution to the success of the programme.

In a further show of community support, a representative of the church leadership announced plans to support beneficiaries who received equipment to produce and sell sachet water. The church indicated that it would produce sachet water and make it available to interested PWD beneficiaries at a highly subsidised price for resale to the general public. The initiative is also expected to provide an opportunity to identify beneficiaries who demonstrate commitment and success in their businesses for possible additional support.

The Paramount Chief’s representative, Nana Nifa Hene, congratulated the beneficiaries who received support and encouraged those who did not benefit during the current distribution to remain patient.

He urged all beneficiaries to make good use of the items and funds provided and cautioned against selling them, stressing that the interventions were intended to help beneficiaries improve their livelihoods and support their families.

He also encouraged Persons with Disabilities who had not yet registered to do so in order to facilitate their identification and enable them to access appropriate support and interventions.

The programme also featured the presentation and inspection of the items by the Member of Parliament, Hon. Muhammad Bawah Braimah, the Zongo Chief, and other traditional and community leaders before they were handed over for distribution to the beneficiaries.

To further ease the burden on beneficiaries, transportation support was provided by the Municipal Chief Executive and the Member of Parliament to assist them in conveying their items safely to their respective homes.

Giving the vote of thanks, Thomas Tampirii expressed appreciation to the Member of Parliament, the Municipal Chief Executive, the Municipal Assembly, traditional leaders, religious leaders, staff, and all stakeholders who contributed to the success of the programme.

The programme opened with a prayer led by Father Joseph Oppong and concluded with a closing prayer by the Deputy Chief Imam.

The Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality currently has more than 900 registered Persons with Disabilities, underscoring the importance of sustained interventions to promote their inclusion, economic empowerment, and social wellbeing.

The Municipal Assembly remains committed to working with Government, the Member of Parliament, traditional authorities, religious bodies, development partners, and other stakeholders to ensure that Persons with Disabilities are not left behind in the Municipality’s development agenda.

Through the effective utilisation of the PWDs’ share of the District Assemblies Common Fund, continued stakeholder collaboration, and targeted livelihood and social interventions, the Assembly seeks to empower Persons with Disabilities to become more self-reliant, improve their quality of life, and contribute meaningfully to the development of the Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality.