<<Print>>

VOICE Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organization is embarking on a one and half year project aimed at sensitizing Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) on resource revenues management in the country.

The sensitization will focus on revenues from the mining and extractive industry, including the oil and gas sector.

It forms part of a US$100,000 project launched by the Organization on resource revenue management and its benefits for PWDs.

The project is being funded by the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP Africa), an organization, working to influence energy sector policies in Africa.

Mr Francis Asong, Executive Director, Voice Ghana, in a brief to the Ghana News Agency said the project would also ensure that “existing policies on resource revenue allocations from the extractive sector is reviewed, to also benefit persons with disabilities".

He said PWDs would also be empowered to start demanding benefits from these revenues to address their needs, aside the mandated three per cent Disability Grant from the District Assembly Common Fund.

Mr Asong said four districts where extractive or mining activities were being carried out, would be identified in each of the Western, Ashanti, Eastern, Central and Volta Regions as the implementing districts.

Mr Eric Kwakye Darfour, the Eastern Regional Minister, lauded the initiative and urged VOICE Ghana to use a baseline survey to identify the needs of PWDs to develop future proposals to support their livelihoods.

Nana George Frimpong, the Central Regional President of Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations also lauded the project, saying it would, "go a long way to support persons with disabilities in accessing additional funding for their livelihoods, apart from the mandated three per cent District Assembly Common Fund”.

The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, are among key collaborators on the project.

Others are the Petroleum Commission, the Minerals Commission, the National Council on Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), and Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD).

VOICE Ghana plays an active and leading role in disability policy advocacy and inclusive governance for PWDs in Ghana.