The Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Honourable Ahmed Ibrahim has urged Parliament to intensify oversight over the disbursement of funds allocated to persons with disabilities. He stated that although substantial resources have been approved, many intended beneficiaries are yet to receive the support meant for them.
Addressing parliamentary proceedings on disability welfare, Honourable Ibrahim acknowledged government efforts to improve access to social support for persons with disabilities. He noted that beyond allocations under the District Assemblies Common Fund, additional support has been provided through the Ghana Education Trust Fund.
Discussing current provisions, the Minister disclosed that 100 million Ghana cedis has been earmarked under the GETFund formula for persons with disabilities. He added that free tertiary education, accommodation and related support services continue to be extended to eligible beneficiaries.
“What persons with disability want from Parliament is that money approved for them must reach them in full. Government needs to put fire on the social welfare officers. Some Metropolitan and District Finance Officers are not religiously doing full disclosure to the social welfare officers to know how much money that Parliament has approved and how much money that the President is giving to be given to persons with disability.”
Honourable Ahmed Ibrahim
He added that strengthening local oversight to ensure transparency in fund utilisation. In light of this, Honourable Ibrahim appealed to Members of Parliament to actively monitor allocations in their respective districts.
Moreover, he called on the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund to ensure MPs are informed whenever funds are transferred to local assemblies. He argued that such disclosure would enable legislators to track how much reaches persons with disabilities.
He also called for proper distribution practices at the district level. Honourable Ibrahim criticised situations where social welfare officers procure appliances for distribution without proper assessment of the real needs of beneficiaries.
Furthermore, he recalled oversight visits conducted by the Local Government Committee during the Eighth Parliament under the leadership of Honourable Patricia Appiagyei. Those visits, he said, exposed significant irregularities in the administration of disability support funds.
Similarly, the Minister urged stakeholders to treat disability welfare as a national responsibility. He added that proper accountability would ensure every allocation translates into meaningful support for vulnerable citizens.
The emphasis, he stated, should remain on restoring dignity to persons with disabilities through efficient delivery systems. Honourable Ibrahim finally urged Parliament to sustain pressure on implementing agencies to guarantee fair and transparent disbursement.
Increased Disability Allocations Signal Stronger Welfare Commitment
Ghana’s disability support framework is entering a new phase as government expands financial allocations under the District Assemblies Common Fund. The increase marks a significant step in efforts to strengthen welfare support and improve inclusion for persons with disabilities.
Discussing the historical foundation of the policy, Honourable Ahmed Ibrahim traced the Disability Act to the administration of John Agyekum Kufuor. He noted that the legislation created the legal basis for structured support for persons with disabilities across the country.
The Minister highlighted a major turning point during the administration of John Evans Atta Mills. He stated that active implementation began in 2009 when one percent of the District Assemblies Common Fund was specifically reserved for persons with disabilities. Honourable Ibrahim explained that allocations under the fund have increased progressively over the years.
A key aspect of the latest reforms is the upward revision of the disability allocation share. He disclosed that the allocation, which rose from one percent to three percent in earlier years, has now increased to five percent.
Additionally, the Minister presented figures to illustrate the scale of growth in funding. He stated that in 2025, disability allocations stood at 263 million Ghana cedis, representing three percent of 7.5 billion Ghana cedis under the fund.
Correspondingly, the 2026 budget has recorded a substantial increase. Honourable Ibrahim announced that 438 million Ghana cedis has now been earmarked for persons with disabilities.
The focus now is to ensure these increased allocations deliver measurable impact. Honourable Ibrahim stressed that higher funding must be matched with stronger implementation and transparent monitoring.
Moreover, he noted that the success of the policy depends on coordinated action between Parliament, local assemblies and welfare institutions. Efficient administration, he said, will determine whether the expanded resources improve lives at the community level.
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