The General Assembly of the Ada East District Assembly has ordered its ad hoc committee to carry out further investigations into the management of the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Common Fund before presenting a final report for adoption.
Members took the decision at the assembly’s first ordinary meeting after rejecting the committee’s preliminary findings as insufficiently supported by evidence.
The assembly said it needed a clearer account of how the fund had been managed before it could make an informed decision, particularly over claims that items were purchased for beneficiaries instead of distributing cash.
The Fund Management Committee was reported to have approved the distribution of cash to beneficiaries. However, the investigating committee alleged that the District Coordinating Director instructed the Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development to procure items instead.
The District Coordinating Director denied giving such an instruction. She said she had provided professional advice but had not directed the department to disregard the decision of the Fund Management Committee.
The conflicting accounts led assembly members to demand a more comprehensive inquiry, including documentary evidence and testimony from all relevant officials and people involved in the fund’s administration.
The ad hoc committee said its work had been affected by the failure of several key officers to attend scheduled hearings. As a result, it managed to hold only two of the five sittings it had planned.
It told the assembly that its preliminary report had been based largely on evidence from the chairman of the Fund Management Committee, the Director of Social Welfare, who is also the committee’s secretary, and a supplier who was interviewed by telephone.
Members said the limited evidence meant the report could not provide a reliable basis for decisions about the fund.
To support the next stage of the investigation, Presiding Member Mr Philip Achia volunteered to join the committee. He also promised to finance its next sitting after members revealed that they had personally paid for some of the earlier hearings.
The committee’s final sitting is scheduled for Wednesday, 5 August 2026. The Director of Social Welfare, the Procurement Officer, the Chairman of the Fund Management Committee, suppliers and beneficiaries are expected to appear.
Those attending have been asked to bring documents relevant to the investigation.
Once the committee has submitted its final report, the assembly is expected to hold an emergency meeting to consider its findings. The meeting will also be used to decide on steps aimed at facilitating the release of the delayed PWD Common Fund.
The delay has caused concern among disability organisations and potential beneficiaries.
Mr Ayiku Akuaku, the Ada East District President of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD), told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that he was disappointed by the delay.
He said many persons with disabilities were continuing to experience economic hardship while waiting for the fund to be released.
Mr Akuaku urged the assembly to complete the inquiry as quickly as possible so beneficiaries could receive the assistance intended for them.
