Ada PWDs boycott Assembly disbursement over procurement concerns

Some Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Ada East District on December 23, 2025, boycotted a planned disbursement exercise by the Ada East District Assembly, citing alleged procurement breaches and non-compliance with established by-laws. 

The boycott followed reports that items earmarked for distribution under the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) were procured without adhering to laid-down procurement procedures. 

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr Theophilus Dugbatey Ayim, Chairperson of the District Disability Fund Management Committee and a ranking member of the Assembly’s Sub-Committee on Social Services, said the committee had earlier vetted and compiled data on eligible beneficiaries, but no official date had been fixed for the disbursement. 

Mr Ayim explained that district by-laws required all items intended for PWDs to be procured through the District Procurement Officer. However, he alleged that the procedure was bypassed, with an external individual reportedly engaged to purchase some of the items. 

According to him, he only became aware on Monday, December 22, that the disbursement was scheduled for the following day, Tuesday, December 23, 2025. 

He said enquiries made at the Social Welfare Department raised additional concerns, prompting the leadership of the PWDs to advise members to boycott the exercise in protest.

Mr Ayim said the group was demanding transparency, stakeholder consultation and strict adherence to procurement regulations to ensure fairness and accountability in the management of the fund. 

When the GNA visited the disbursement venue at Atortorkorpe around 13:00 hours, fewer than 20 PWDs were present under the canopies out of the 156 registered beneficiaries in the district. 

The low turnout reportedly compelled officials of the Social Welfare Department to adopt alternative measures, including distributing perishable items such as fresh tilapia, okro and onions directly to beneficiaries’ homes later in the day. 

Meanwhile, the Ada East District Chief Executive, Mr Kenneth Kabu Kofi Kanor, has appealed to the PWDs to remain calm and adopt amicable means to resolve the issue. 

Mr Kanor said he had delegated responsibility for the disbursement process to the appropriate departments of the Assembly and was confident in their ability to discharge their duties effectively. 

According to him, Mr Enoch Addy, Head of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, had informed him that stakeholders met and agreed on the items to be procured for the beneficiaries. 

He added that although he does not interfere unnecessarily in departmental operations, he remains open to dialogue and urged the leadership of the PWDs to engage him in discussions to resolve the concerns peacefully.

Source: GNA