The Ningo-Prampram District Assembly (NIPDA) on Thursday, presented entrepreneurial items to 69 local persons with disability to enhance their livelihoods.
The items worth GHs121,864.00 includes 48 pieces of chest freezers, 100 bags of cement, 100 bags of charcoal, two glass showcase, 20 plywood and two sewing machines. Others are two wheel chairs, 40 boxes of key soap and four metal container kiosks and one popcorn machine.
Miss Augustina Narh, Ningo-Prampram District Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, said government had increased the two per cent of the Assemblies Common Fund as disability fund to three per cent.
Miss Narh added that the Department was directed to find out the needs of the beneficiaries and provide them with life sustaining items to help make a. decent living instead of depending on alms and charity.
She indicated that the purchase of the items were done strictly according to laid down procurement processes adding that the 69 were among 112 beneficiaries of whom some received school fees bursary payments and paid medical bills two weeks ago.
She explained that beneficiaries applied to the Department after which assessment and home investigations were done by a committee to ascertain the suitability of the applicants.
The Director said to ensure that the items were used for its intended purpose, her outfit would do quarterly monitoring of the work of beneficiaries while advising them to work hard and desist from begging.
Mr Jonathan Teye Doku, Ningo-Prampram District Chief Executive, urged beneficiaries to take good care of the items, be dedicated to their work to derive the full benefits of the items.
Mr Doku added that they must learn to save some of their profits to reinvest into their businesses to make way for them to also benefit.
He apologized for the late disbursement as he explained that it was due to procurement processes noting that the presentation covered 2016 and early part of 2017 applications.
He gave the assurance that processes for procurement for late 2017 and 2018 applications would commence soon.
Miss Rejoice Adika, a visually impaired beneficiary, thanked the Assembly for the gesture saying even though she was grateful, she needed a bag of corn, margarine, and sugar to help her immediately start the business.