Assessing the Impact and Uses of the Disability Common Fund Among Persons with Disabilities in Kumasi Metropolis in Ghana
Main Article Content
Keywords
Social protection, disability common fund, Ghana
Abstract
The Disability Common Fund (DCF) is a social protection program aimed at alleviating poverty among persons with disabilities in Ghana. Since its introduction, little has been done to examine if beneficiaries use the fund for its intended purposes. The study was conducted to assess beneficiaries’ perception of the sufficiency of the fund, what the fund was used for and the possible impact on the lives of beneficiaries in the Kumasi Metropolis, and make recommendation for improvement. This cross-sectional quantitative study obtained survey data from120 beneficiaries of the fund in the Kumasi Metropolis. Findings indicated that the DCF was used for a variety of purposes, which could be beneficial to the recipients of the fund. These included procurement of assistive devices, awareness creation, enabling the environment, payment of school fees of dependents and assisting beneficiaries to access healthcare. Although respondents complained of the insufficiency of the fund and delays in releasing of funds to the beneficiaries, the fund has had some positive impacts on their lives. It is recommended that the fund be increased and disbursed in a timely manner in order for the DCF to serve its intended purpose.
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Global situation of people with disabilities. (n.d.). Retrieved June 3, 2016, from http://www.hiproweb.org/fileadmin/cdroms/Handicap_Developpement/www/en_page21.html
Gooding, K., & Marriot, A. (2009). Including persons with disabilities in social cash transfer programmes in developing countries. Journal of International Development, 21(5), 685-698.
Mohapatra CS (2004). Disability management in India: Challenges and Commitments. New Delhi: Indian Institute of Public Administration.
McClain-Nhlapo, C. (2007). Including people with disabilities in actions to reduce poverty and hunger. International Food Policy Research Institute.
Mitra, S., Pošarac, A., & Vick, B. (2011). “Disability and poverty in developing countries: a snapshot from the world.” Washington, DC: World Bank.
Mitra, S., & Sambamoorthi, U. (2006). Employment of persons with disabilities: evidence from the National Sample Survey. Economic and Political Weekly, 199-203.
National Council for Persons with Disabilities. (2010). Guidelines for the Disbursment and Management of the District Assembly Common For Persons with Disability. Retrieved from http://www.inclusion-ghana.org/resources/advocacy-toolkits/Guidelines%20for%20Disbursement%20of%20District%20Assembly%20Common%20Fund.pdf
Oddsdottir, F. (2014). Social protection programmes for people with disabilities (GSDRC Helpdesk Research Report 1137). Birmingham, UK: GSDRC, University of Birmingham.
Sackey, E. (2009). Strengthening the Disability movement in Ghana project, Accra, Ghana: Ghana Federation of the Disabled.
Vezina, S., & Ebbeson L. (2008). Disability in the Caribbean: A study of four countries: a Socio-demographic Analysis of the Disabled (Vol.7). United Nations Publications.
Ghana, S.E.N.D. (2010). Making Decentralisation Work for the Poor. Accra, Ghana: SEND Ghana.
Slikker, J. (2009). Attitudes towards person with disability in Ghana. Retrieved from www.gfdgh.org/vsoattitudes towards pwds in Ghana.pdf
Sultan, S. M., & Schrofer, T. T. (2008). 5.4 Building Support to have Targeted Social Protection Interventions for the Poorest–The Case of Ghana. Social Protection for the Poorest in Africa, 300.
Tabor, S. R. (2002). Assisting the poor with cash: Design and implementation of social transfer programs. World Bank Social Protection Discussion Paper, 223.
The United Nations. (2006). Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Treaty Series, 2515, 3.
UNESCO. (1995). Overcoming obstacles to the integration of disable people. London:Disability Awareness in Action
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