Voice Ghana, a non-governmental organisation in Ho, the Volta region and other civil society organisations in the region are demanding the inclusion of persons living with disability in the decision making processes in the Metropolitan, Municipal and Districts Assemblies (MMDAs) in the country.
The call forms part of a project to ensure that MMDAs improve the standard of living and social protection for persons with disabilities by involving them in the assemblies development programmes.
The group expressed worry over the delay in releasing the 2 percent of the District assembly common fund (DACF) meant to facilitate their activities.
[contextly_sidebar id=”A1cVUmwR31PDf7kOhJb2CuHpoJPNGTCJ”]They lamented that some MMDAs failed to even release the meager fund to the disabled.
According to the group, several attempts over the years to engage the Assemblies to address such issues have proved futile.
The US$80,000 project funded by disability rights fund in USA seeks to support organisations of persons with disabilities in the developing world to advocate for the human rights of persons with disabilities at the local and national levels through the implementation of the guidelines of the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (CRPD).
The project if fully implemented would enable persons with disabilities to benefit more from social protection programmes other than the current 2% district assembly common fund.
The theme for the two year project is ‘giving disability a centre stage in development plans of local government.’’
Other partners of the project include Local Governance Network (LOGNet) and the Ghana Anti-corruption Coalition(GACC).
Coordinating Directors, Planning and Budget Officers of over 50 assemblies across the country who participated in the workshop were charged as a matter of urgency involve people with disabilities into the local government process.
The Group also called on government to ensure timely release of the funds to the various assemblies to facilitate quick disbursement to enable its members better serve their needs.
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By: King Norbert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana