The Hohoe Municipal Assembly has taken a significant step toward social inclusion and economic empowerment with the presentation of various livelihood support items to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Municipality. The intervention, which forms part of the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of vulnerable groups, aims to enhance the standard of living of PWDs while promoting self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods.
The empowerment programme, implemented through the Hohoe Municipal Department of Social Welfare, benefited 90 Persons with Disabilities selected from across all traditional areas within the Municipality. The initiative underscores the Assembly’s resolve to ensure that no segment of the population is left behind in local development efforts.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Hohoe Municipal Director of the Department of Social Welfare, Henry Yanpalleh, explained that the beneficiaries were carefully selected based on established criteria to ensure fairness and the effective use of resources.
According to him, the items were intended to support PWDs to engage in meaningful economic activities that would improve their livelihoods and reduce dependency.
Mr Yanpalleh emphasised that the Department would not only distribute the items but also conduct regular monitoring and tracking to assess their proper utilisation and impact. He cautioned beneficiaries against diverting or selling the items, stressing that such actions would defeat the purpose of the intervention and deprive others of future assistance.
“The empowerment tools are meant to support you to live a dignified and meaningful life. We will continue to monitor how these items are used to ensure they serve their intended purpose,” he stated.
The Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Prosper Kumi, provided details of the items distributed under the programme. He disclosed that the Assembly presented a wide range of equipment tailored to the specific needs and skills of the beneficiaries.
These included 47 deep freezers to support cold storage and small-scale trading, two cassava milling machines, 13 fufu pounding machines, two hair dryers for hairdressing businesses, ten sewing machines, one knitting machine, 13 table-top kiosks, and four pepper and tomato grinding machines.
The Municipal Chief Executive noted that out of the 96 Persons with Disabilities captured in the Hohoe Municipality, 90 were supported in this phase of the programme. He explained that the beneficiaries were drawn from all traditional areas to ensure equitable distribution and inclusiveness across the Municipality.
He said the initiative reflects the government’s broader agenda of empowering vulnerable groups and enabling them to contribute meaningfully to local economic development. He urged the beneficiaries to take good care of the equipment and use it productively to improve their livelihoods.
The Hohoe Constituency Member of Parliament (MP), Thomas Worlanyo Tsekpo, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting Persons with Disabilities through targeted interventions.
He stressed the importance of maintaining the items and ensuring that they are put to proper use to achieve the desired impact.
Mr Tsekpo stated that the number of PWDs in the Municipality was quite large, making it necessary for support to be provided in phases. He assured beneficiaries that the government remained committed to expanding support to reach more persons in subsequent phases.
The Member of Parliament disclosed that the percentage of the MPs’ Common Fund allocated to Persons with Disabilities had been increased from three per cent to five per cent.
According to him, this increment demonstrates the government’s recognition of the unique challenges faced by PWDs and its determination to improve their living conditions.
He commended the unity and cooperation among Assembly members, noting that their collective efforts had played a key role in advancing the welfare and development of the Hohoe Municipality.
Godwin Atitso, Chairman of the Hohoe Municipal Disability Management Fund Committee, expressed profound gratitude to the government and the Hohoe Municipal Assembly for the continued support extended to Persons with Disabilities. He noted that the empowerment items would go a long way in transforming the lives of beneficiaries by enabling them to engage in income-generating activities and become more self-sufficient.
The Hohoe Municipal Assembly also commissioned 20 newly constructed lockable stores as part of efforts to boost local commerce and provide secure trading spaces for business operators within the Municipality.
Prosper Kumi revealed that the lockable stores were funded through the Assembly’s Internally Generated Fund (IGF). He used the occasion to urge residents to honour their civic responsibility by paying levies and rates promptly, stressing that such contributions were essential for financing development projects across the Municipality.
“The development of Hohoe depends largely on our ability to generate and utilise our own resources. When we all pay our levies, the Assembly can undertake projects that benefit everyone,” he stated.
He further disclosed that additional work was ongoing on other lockable stores, which are expected to be completed in the coming year. According to him, these projects form part of the Assembly’s broader strategy to improve infrastructure, promote local economic activities, and create opportunities for residents, especially traders and small business owners.
Mr Worlanyo Tsekpo also spoke on future development plans, indicating that arrangements were far advanced to secure land for the Constituency’s share of the government’s flagship 24-Hour Economy initiative. He expressed optimism that the programme would bring significant economic benefits to the area, including job creation and increased business activities.
The commissioning ceremony was further graced by Daniel Noble Awume, a former Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, who commended the current administration for completing the lockable store project. He described the initiative as a demonstration of continuity in governance and a clear commitment to development at the local level.
By: Daniel Orlando/newsalertgh.com
