The current vice president and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has officially appointed Joshua Makubu as the Campaign Coordinator for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs.
This appointment underscores Dr. Bawumia’s commitment to advocating for and uplifting the marginalized sectors of Ghanaian society. His vision centers on fostering an all-inclusive Ghana where every citizen’s diverse talents and energies are fully utilized for national development.
Since assuming his role in 2017, Dr. Bawumia has spearheaded various initiatives to improve the lives of persons with disabilities and special needs. Among these initiatives are notable increases in the percentage allocation for Persons with Disability under the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), rising from 2% to 3%.
Furthermore, comprehensive photo albums detailing the demographic and support requirements of persons with disabilities have been compiled across all 262 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs). This meticulous approach has facilitated more efficient fund disbursement, ensuring targeted assistance and stringent accountability measures.
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Significantly, over GHC 331,000,000 has been disbursed since 2017 to support persons with disabilities across 261 MMDAs, benefiting 59,040 individuals. This assistance includes providing startup capital to 52,995 persons, totaling approximately GHC 246,466,603, and equipping 6,045 individuals with essential tools and kits such as sewing machines, hairdryers, ovens, and more.
Notably, this government’s investment in economic support for persons with disabilities represents the most substantial commitment in the history of Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
Dr. Bawumia’s plans are equally ambitious. He has pledged to consolidate the policy of local economic empowerment for citizens with special needs, aiming to create sustainable livelihoods and contribute to economic growth. Additionally, plans are underway to recruit 1,000 special education teachers and provide comprehensive retraining for educators to serve students with special needs better.
Additional efforts will also be made to increase the availability of speech and language therapists and occupational and behavioral therapists to address the specific needs of individuals with disabilities.
