General News of Wednesday, 12 February 2020

Source: gbcghanaonline.com

Interdict some appointed MMDAs or face court action - Disability Federation bares teeth

Ghana Federation of Disability Organisation (GFD) logo Ghana Federation of Disability Organisation (GFD) logo

The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisation (GFD) in the Bono region has given 9 out of the 11 MMDAs in the region a three-week ultimatum to interdict persons appointed by the MMDAs to represent the GFD as ordered by the Minister of Local Government, Hajiah Alima Mahama.

At a press conference to petition President Akufo-Addo and the Minister for Local Government, they indicated that those selected to represent the GFDs do not know anything about FWD hence the need for the government to intervene.

Addressing the media in Sunyani to channel their displeasure, the Vice President of the Bono regional chapter of the GFD, Miss Sirina Mahamadu, said the Local Government and Rural Development gave the directive on how 30 percent government appointees to the MMDAs will be selected.

According to her, the document signed by the Minister for the Local Government, Hajia Alima Mahama, made it clear that MMDAs should liaise with or consult the GFD in identifying such persons with disability to represent the interest of PWDs in the various MMDAs in the country.

She said despite the order from the Minister, 3 out of the 11 MMDAs in the Bono region complied, a situation she described as worrying.

“The MMDAs went ahead to select persons who do not have any idea of the GFD while some were accident victims.”

With the guidelines from the minister which they are not happy about, Miss Sirina revealed that Jaman North, Berekum East and Wenchi Municipal are the three whose assemblies complied with the guidelines.

Sirina Mahamadu then called on the President, Akufo-Addo and Minister for Local Government, Hajia Alima Mahama to intervene or else they will proceed to court whiles appealing to the President to award three DCEs who appointed the GFDs representatives.

“We are petitioning the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, the Local Government Minister Hajia Alima Mahama to intervene else we are giving the MMDAs three weeks from now to interdict those appointed to represent the GFDs in their districts or we will take them to court.”