Ashaiman: Mr Ernest Norgbey, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashaiman, has urged Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the municipality to unite and strengthen their collective voice to advance their welfare and development. Mr Norgbey emphasized that internal divisions and the emergence of splinter groups could undermine the community's ability to advocate effectively for its members and collaborate with authorities on development initiatives.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Norgbey made the call during a distribution exercise for beneficiaries of the District Assemblies Common Fund Disability Fund in Ashaiman. He highlighted that the five percent allocation from the District Assemblies Common Fund was intended to empower PWDs to establish sustainable livelihoods and generate income to support themselves and their families, rather than for ad-hoc consumption. Mr Norgbey stressed the importance of using the financial support for its intended purpose, emphasizing, "The money that comes is for them."
The MP expressed concern that disagreements and fragmentation within the disability community had created unnecessary tensions and weakened its collective voice. He noted that such divisions had, in the past, hampered development initiatives, including capacity-building and artisan training programmes designed to equip members with practical skills.
Mr Norgbey urged the disability community to work towards electing a cohesive leadership structure by the end of the year. This structure would serve as an effective umbrella body capable of engaging both local and national authorities. Additionally, he assured the beneficiaries that empowerment programmes, including training in dressmaking and other vocational skills, would resume. The provision of start-up toolkits to promote self-reliance was also confirmed, aiming to enhance the community's ability to achieve sustainable development goals.