Nandom MCE Distributes Nearly Half a Million Cedis to Persons with Disabilities in Upper West Region

Eighty-nine persons with disabilities in the Nandom Municipality of Ghana's Upper West Region have received a combined total of GH¢496,520 in direct financial support, disbursed by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE). The intervention is aimed at helping beneficiaries improve their quality of life through enterprise, healthcare access and education.

What the support covers

The funds disbursed are intended to serve a broad range of needs that persons with disabilities commonly face in Ghana's rural and peri-urban communities. Beneficiaries can use the support to establish or expand small businesses, giving them a pathway to economic independence rather than continued dependence on charity or family support.

The package also covers access to healthcare and education — two areas where persons with disabilities in Ghana's northern regions often face significant barriers due to cost and distance. Additionally, the funds can be used to acquire assistive devices such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, crutches and other equipment that can dramatically improve daily functioning and participation in community life.

• GH¢496,520 disbursed to 89 beneficiaries in Nandom Municipality
• Funds cover business support, healthcare, education and assistive devices
• Intervention targets improved livelihoods for persons with disabilities in Upper West Region

Why it matters for Ghana

Ghana has long recognised the rights and needs of persons with disabilities through legislation, most notably the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715), which mandates that two percent of the District Assemblies Common Fund be set aside for persons with disabilities. However, implementation at the district and municipal level has historically been inconsistent, with many beneficiaries in rural areas — particularly in the north — waiting years before receiving any tangible support.

Disbursements of this nature at the municipal level are therefore significant not merely for the individuals involved, but as a signal of accountability and local governance in action. When MCEs prioritise the welfare of marginalised groups, it sets a standard that communities and civil society organisations can point to when holding other assemblies accountable.

The Upper West Region remains one of Ghana's most economically vulnerable regions, with poverty rates consistently above the national average. For persons with disabilities living in this environment, the intersection of disability and poverty can be particularly severe, limiting access to opportunities that citizens elsewhere may take for granted.

Broader context: Disability inclusion in Ghana

Ghana has made strides in disability inclusion in recent years, including the establishment of the National Council on Persons with Disability, which oversees policy direction and coordination across government agencies. Nonetheless, advocacy groups continue to highlight gaps in the disbursement of disability funds, inadequate accessibility infrastructure and limited employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in both the public and private sectors.

Initiatives like the one in Nandom serve as a reminder that meaningful inclusion requires consistent, well-targeted financial interventions at the grassroots level. For the 89 beneficiaries in Nandom, this disbursement represents a practical opportunity to reshape their economic circumstances — provided the funds are accompanied by adequate follow-up support, mentorship and monitoring to ensure they are used effectively.

Civil society and disability rights advocates have frequently called on district and municipal assemblies across Ghana to be more transparent about how disability funds are allocated, and to involve persons with disabilities themselves in the planning process.