Navigating the challenges of disability fund management: Voices of beneficiaries and fund management in the Daffiama-Bussie-Issa District, Ghana

Abstract

Ghana’s primary source of social assistance for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) is the Disability Fund. However, its operation faces significant challenges. While some previous studies have examined the implementation challenges of the fund, they lacked comprehensiveness, as none combined the perspectives of PWDs and the Disability Fund Management Committee (DFMC) to analyse issues related to item distribution and cash disbursement. Consequently, there is a pressing need to explore the fund’s challenges from multiple viewpoints. This study is grounded in human capital and empowerment theories, which serve as its foundational frameworks. To explore the research problem, a qualitative approach was adopted, involving 19 PWDs and four DFMC members as participants. Data were collected using an interview guide and analysed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed key challenges affecting the Disability Fund, including fund inadequacy, irregular disbursement, inadequate information sharing, and an unstandardized application and disbursement process. Drawing on these insights, the study recommends that the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs undertake a comprehensive review of the fund’s application and disbursement mechanisms. Additionally, it advocates for the establishment of a binding legal framework to ensure the timely release of funds, thereby strengthening the fund’s effectiveness, operational efficiency, and developmental impact