Apam (C/R), Sept. 15, GNA - The Gomoa West District Disability Fund Management

Committee (DFMC) on Tuesday organised a meeting for 350 people with disabilities in the

area on how to access the fund. Dr Mark Nii Lamptey, Technical Advisor to the DFMC who led the discussion said the fund

was established by the government to minimise poverty among people with disabilities,

especially those outside the formal sector. Dr Lamptey, who is also the Manager of Gomoaman National Health Insurance Scheme,

said the fund was aimed at supporting income generating activities of the disabled and to

provide educational support for children, students and trainees with disabilities. The technical adviser said the fund was also meant for the capacity building of people with

disabilities to enable them to advocate and assert their rights on disability issues and support

them to have access to technical aids and other assistive devices and equipment. Dr Lamptey cautioned that the fund cannot be used to sponsor children o= f persons with

disabilities who are not disabled. Mr Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah, District Chief Executive advised people wit= h disabilities not to

allow their predicaments to have an effect on them. He said disability does not connote inability and therefore people who are physically

challenged should strive to lead normal lives. Mr Aidoo-Mensah cautioned members of the DTMC to guard against fraudulent practices. Mr Francis Kojo Arthur, Member of Parliament for the area advised people with disabilities

to desist from begging and rather access the fund to pursuit gainful ventures. Two per cent of the District Assemblies 91Common Fund is set aside to support people with

disabilities in the districts, municipal and metropolitan assemblies.