Shama (W/R), May 5, GNA - The Shama District Assembly is to set up a learning and trade institution for the disabled modeled after a similar institution in India, Miss Emelia Arthur, the District Chief Executive, announced on Wednesday.

In an address read for her at the inauguration of the District branch of the Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD) at Shama, she said part of an abandoned structure at Beposo would be used for the establishment of the institute.

Miss Arthur said she had had discussions with district executives of the GFD to nominate two of their members to be sponsored on a trip to India to study how the institute there was being managed by a disabled person who is the founder.

She said the government passed the Disability Bill into an Act to create the necessary structures and assist the physically challenged to achieve their goals.

Miss Arthur said government would implement all the provisions of the Act and fully integrate the disabled into the mainstream of national life. She said the two percent share of the Common Fund for the disabled would now be deducted at source and paid into an account instead of going to the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies coffers. Miss Arthur advised the district executives of the GFD not to be "armed chair executives" but to strive for the best for the members of the association through initiatives, dialogue and proper management of funds and resources.

She said the District Assembly would do anything possible to facilitate the activities of the federation and said her doors were always opened to welcome them.

Miss Rita Kyeremah Agyari, Executive Director of GFD, who inaugurated the Shama District Branch, said the federation has 50 branches nationwide and 30 more branches were to be established before the end of the year. She also urged the district executives to study the constitution of the GFD, abide by its provisions and added that they should be transparent and accountable in their administration to win more members. Miss Agyari advised female members of the association to come together to benefit from educational programmes for women.