Dr. Clement Apaak, a member of the Education and Public Accounts Committees (PAC) of Parliament has said he will name and shame people who have mismanaged, abused and embezzled the Disability Fund.
He disclosed how the Disability Common Fund has been mismanaged and abused per reports from the PAC of Parliament, and assured that his caucus will resort to name and shame of culprits.
Dr. Apaak also cited instances whereby the disability fund has been used to fund programs and expenses that have nothing to do with persons with disability.
“If I tell you as a member of the Public Accounts Committee, how the Disability Common Fund has been abused, misapplied and embezzled you will weep” he told Alfred Ocansey on 3FM Sunrise Morning Show.
The Disability Common Fund (DCF) is a social protection program aimed at alleviating poverty among persons with disabilities in Ghana. Since its introduction the fund has been faced with challenges such as delays in disbursement among others.
The Member of Parliament for Builsa South and some colleagues of his have constituted a Parliamentary Disability Caucus to champion the plight of Persons with Disability in Ghana. Though they are yet to formalize their caucus with the consent of the Speaker of Parliament to make it official, they group is engaging with the Ghana Federation of Disability and other groups to build their capacity to know how to effectively advocate and champion their interest of Persons with Disabilities.
The group also wants the Persons with Disability Act 2006 (Act 715) amended to reflect the current challenges confronting Persons with Disability in Ghana.
“We have observed and seen what’s going on. Persons with disabilities who have lost their livelihood due to the closure of the toll booths when they had been promised employment to manage the booths in Ghana. There was never a Legislative Instrument for the Disability Act 2006 and most of its content needs a review, making sure the built environment takes into account the plight of persons with disabilities” says Dr. Apaak.
He expressed disappointment in how a person living with disability who acted as a whistle blower on an illicit drug trade was exposed and severely beaten by two police officers in the Western Region. The ‘caucus’ wants the Inspector General of Police to institute a probe into the matter to ensure the culprits are sanctioned whereas proper compensation is given to the victim.
“I am disappointed that no formal statement or action has been taken by the Ghana Police Service. We the Parliamentary Caucus on Disability are going to make sure the case is probed and the officers sanctioned accordingly whiles the medical bills and proper compensation given to the victim” Dr. Clement Apaak told Alfred Ocansey on 3FM Sunrise Morning Show on Wednesday.
