An intervention by the Board Chairman of the National Council on Persons with Disability (NCPD) into the Ada East Disability Common Fund controversy is allegedly crippling an ongoing investigation into financial mismanagement.
On Tuesday, January 20, the NCPD Board Chairman, Mr. Fredrick Assor, held a closed-door meeting with the District Chief Executive (DCE), top Assembly officials, and disability leaders.
Contrary to expectations that the visit would reinforce the demand for accountability, sources say the meeting ended with disability leaders being heavily coaxed to accept the questionable items—an effort seen by many as an attempt to sweep the controversy under the rug.
Surprisingly, instead of commending the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) leaders for their transparency and vigilance, officials reportedly chastised them for involving the media.
This “resolution” offered no real accountability, providing only a promise from the DCE to “top up” items found to be undervalued compared to the allocated funds.
A Fragile Compromise
Following the closed-door session, the leadership of the disability community convened a private meeting to discuss their next steps.
Under significant pressure from the “resolution” efforts, the leaders agreed to accept the items, but only under one strict condition: that the goods be professionally evaluated to ascertain their true market costs.
The leadership explained that this valuation is necessary so that beneficiaries who originally requested cash, will know the fair market value of the items to inform how much they should sell them for.
This condition serves as a final attempt to protect members from being forced to accept goods worth far less than their allocated funds.
Investigation in Limbo
Despite this tactical compromise, the quest for accountability remains stalled.
Since the NCPD Chairman’s visit, the next key witness scheduled for the hearing, the Purchasing Officer, has refused to appear before the seven-member investigative committee.
The outcome of his testimony is critical, as it is expected to inform the committee’s decision to invite the supplier and the District Coordinating Director.
Despite repeated phone calls and follow-ups, the Purchasing Officer has successfully dodged the probe, fueling suspicions that the NCPD intervention has provided officials with a shield to avoid scrutiny.
The Root of the Controversy
The controversy stems from a 2024 Christmas Eve disbursement that was boycotted by the disability community.
The protest was triggered by allegations of gross overpricing and the purchase of highly perishable items, such as okra and tilapia, some of which reportedly spoiled before it could be utilised.
While the GFD leadership has offered a conditional acceptance of the goods to move the process forward, the refusal of Assembly officials to face the investigative team leaves the underlying allegations of “procurement rot” unanswered.
Key Revelations and Guideline Breaches
Preliminary findings by the committee have already unearthed significant procedural flaws.
Evidence suggests that the District Director of Social Welfare unilaterally signed the documents submitted to the District Coordinating Director, who then authorised the release of funds.
This process directly violates the new Disability Common Fund Disbursement Guidelines, which mandate a three-way oversight, requiring the signatures of the Fund Management Committee Chairman, the Convener of the Social Services Sub-Committee, and the Director of Social Welfare.
By bypassing these mandatory signatures, officials effectively removed the safeguards intended to protect the funds of the disability community.
As it stands, the probe remains in limbo, with the quest for justice for the PWDs of Ada East overshadowed by what some describe as a high-level attempt to bury the truth.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
