In a groundbreaking move toward inclusive development and economic empowerment, the Effutu Municipal Assembly has distributed high-value entrepreneurial equipment to 60 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), marking one of the most significant social intervention initiatives in the municipality’s history.
The landmark event, held at the Municipal Assembly’s Conference Room, saw each beneficiary receive business tools and startup capital valued at approximately GHS 4,000, aimed at transitioning PWDs from dependency to sustainable livelihoods. The initiative underscores the Assembly’s commitment to poverty reduction, social inclusion, and equal economic participation.
Addressing beneficiaries, traditional leaders, departmental heads, and civil society representatives, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Rev. Atta Mensah, described the intervention as a deliberate shift from welfare-based assistance to empowerment-driven development.
“This is not charity; it is investment,” the MCE stated. “Our goal is to move you from dependency to dignity, where you control your own economic destiny.”
HON. REV. ATTA MENSAH-MCE
Hon. Rev. Atta Mensah reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to Persons with Disabilities, highlighting flagship policies such as free tertiary education for PWDs and the increase in the disability component of the District Assembly Common Fund from 3 percent to 5 percent. These measures, he noted, reflect a broader national agenda to eliminate systemic barriers faced by vulnerable groups.
He further assured beneficiaries of continuous government support under the leadership of H.E. John Dramani Mahama, emphasizing that inclusion remains a core pillar of national development.
“Even when society marginalizes you, the government will never abandon you,” he said. “You are valued citizens of this nation.”
In a notable departure from previous support programs, the items distributed were not predetermined by the Assembly. Instead, beneficiaries received equipment based on their specific business proposals and individual needs, ensuring relevance, ownership, and sustainability.
The MCE cautioned beneficiaries against selling the items, urging them to see the equipment as long-term business capital.
“These items are not for sale. They are seeds; plant them well, nurture them, and they will feed you and your families for years to come,” he advised.
Adding his voice, Mr. Majeed Ayariga, Municipal Coordinating Director, assured stakeholders that the selection process was transparent, fair, and non-selective, involving only registered and verified members of the PWD community within the municipality.
“This process was guided by equity, not favoritism. Every beneficiary here today qualifies on merit and need,” he explained.
The Effutu Municipal Director of Social Welfare and Community Development, Mr. Joshua Alabi, emphasized that the initiative goes beyond material support to address long-standing economic exclusion.
“With these tools, there should no longer be an excuse for total dependency,” he noted. “This is about restoring confidence, independence, and social participation.”
Beneficiaries received a wide range of entrepreneurial tools tailored to diverse trades, including photocopying machines and laptops, fufu pounding machines, concrete mixers, chest freezers, ice chests, and assorted retail provisions, enabling engagement in commerce, services, and small-scale manufacturing.
This initiative represents the first comprehensive, demand-driven capital support program for PWDs in the history of the Effutu Municipality. By shifting from short-term aid to sustainable enterprise development, the Assembly is setting a replicable model for disability inclusion at the local government level.
As Ghana advances its inclusive development agenda, the Effutu Municipal Assembly’s bold move signals a powerful message: empowerment, not pity, is the pathway to equality.
Through this initiative, the municipality is not only reducing poverty but also nurturing entrepreneurship, restoring dignity, and ensuring that no citizen, regardless of ability is left behind.
STORY BY; CHARLES BAAH ABOAGYE & MERCY YAABA BREDU
PICTURE CREDIT: PAA KWESI BUDU MENSAH
ISD-EFFUTU MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY
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