An explosive investigation into the mismanagement of the 3% Disability Fund in the Ada East District has recommended the immediate resignation of the Head of the Social Welfare Department, Mr. Enock Addy.
The report, which was intercepted by DisabilityNewsGH.com, has recently been officially presented to the Presiding Member of the Assembly. However, it is yet to be laid before the General Assembly for formal deliberation and action.
The document exposes a scandalous series of procurement violations and a patronising disregard for the rights of persons with disabilities.
The Call for Resignation and Next Steps
The seven-member investigative committee, chaired by Hon. Moses Wussah, was blunt in its assessment of the administrative failures.
According to the intercepted document, the committee recommended that “Mr. Enock Addy should resign as Head of the Social Welfare Department and Secretary to the Fund Management Committee.”
Following the submission to the Presiding Member, the report must now be presented to the General Assembly to trigger official sanctions.
A determination is yet to be made on whether the Assembly will convene an emergency meeting specifically to address the findings or wait until the next regular session to table the report for action.
Meanwhile, the committee affirmed that “no legitimate disbursement occurred,” as the items procured did not reflect what the beneficiaries had requested.
Consequently, the report demands that all monies collected for the botched exercise be refunded to the Assembly immediately.
In a bid to rectify the injustice, a new and proper disbursement is recommended to take place by the end of June.
Bizarre Substitutions for Skilled Entrepreneurs
The most damning sections of the report detail how the Assembly administration allegedly ignored the specific business needs of persons with disabilities, substituting approved cash grants with unwanted physical items that bore no relation to their livelihoods.
The committee’s analysis revealed several shocking “mismatches”:
• A beneficiary who requested capital to expand a fishing business was instead provided with a crate of frozen fish.
• A person approved for GHS 3,500.00 for poultry feed received only three bags of feed.
• A beneficiary seeking funds to sell provisions was handed “duku” (headscarves).
• Another individual was given two bags of okro instead of the approved cash support.
Stereotypes Over Guidelines
The investigation traced the root of the crisis to an alleged directive from the District Coordinating Director (DCD), Madam Jane Ameley Tagoe.
According to testimony from the Chairman of the Disability Fund Management Committee, Mr. Ayim Dugbartey Theophilus, the DCD allegedly overrode the committee’s decision to give cash grants.
The DCD reportedly claimed that “persons with disabilities might mismanage the funds,” and insisted that items be procured through a supplier she selected, Corbilee Enterprise.
The report notes that Mr. Enock Addy admitted to the committee that he was fully aware of the official guidelines but failed to follow due process, simply submitting names to the DCD’s office.
DCE Accused of Sabotaging Probe
While the report highlights the failure of key officers to appear for testimony, an independent investigation by DisabilityNewsGH.com has uncovered a deeper layer of interference.
Our findings reveal that the Procurement Officer and other key officials acted on the direct orders of the District Chief Executive (DCE), Hon. Kenneth Kabu Kanor.
Sources indicate that the DCE instructed the officers not to appear before the committee, an act seen as an attempt to force an abrupt end to the investigation and shield the Assembly from further scrutiny.
Despite this alleged sabotage, the committee refused to halt its work. Members proceeded to conclude the investigation and make firm recommendations based on the facts and documents gathered prior to the boycott.
Background: The Botched Disbursement
This investigation was triggered following a controversial disbursement ceremony in December last year, which was first reported by DisabilityNewsGH.com.
During that event, several persons with disabilities boycotted the distribution, expressing outrage over the Assembly’s decision to hand out unwanted retail items and perishables.
The beneficiaries argued that the “one-size-fits-all” approach to procurement ignored their individual business plans and violated the national guidelines for the 3% Common Fund, which is designed to promote economic independence rather than mere subsistence.
The resulting public outcry and the refusal of PWDs to accept the items led the General Assembly to commission this seven-member investigative committee to uncover the administrative failures involved.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
